Dan64456

Yea I had something similar happen to me as well... Also note that Ishihara plates are very light sensitive. FAA recommends lights with a high color temp, like over 6000K I believe with a CRI of over 90... They have specific model numbers... But I actually find them much easier to pass under incandescent lighting, which have low temp, but 100% CRI...

LivingInMEM

From what I learned from an opthomologist, this is not true. First, color blind is what the general public calls it and color deficient is what the doctors call it. Second, while color deficiencies are present from birth to death in some people, there are ways (such as trauma or disease) for people with otherwise normal vision to acquire color deficiencies.

There are also several degrees of color deficiencies involving varying degrees (mild, moderate, severe) and colors. The number plates are just a screening test, and as many as 10% of the people who pass the number plates will fail more in-depth color deficiency tests. Just ask the USAF acquisitions who passed their initial flight physicals (including the number plate) only to be eliminated at the next stage for color deficiencies that were detected by more detailed tests at Brooks AFB. Everyone who failed the initial exam were eliminated at that stage, those that passed went on to Brooks for the more detailed screenings.

Dan64456

There are also cases to prove the contrary... People failing the PIP's (Ishihara Plates) and strangely doing better than 'color normals' on anomaloscope test or other more accurate and in depth tests... The problem with the color plates is that they are calibrated to the average normal... Some normals are better at telling reds from blues than other normals, same with other normals being better able to tell reds from greens, etc... you get the point.

I work right down the office with a guy who is Achromatic. That is he suffers "Achromatopsia". Extremely rare, he was even on TV once about it... 0.0033% of the population has this. He can only see in black and white... and shades of gray... period.

You know what's funny? He can do better than me on some of the Ishihara plates.

A real world test should always be an option for people. Anything else is just based on bad science and unfair.

See: http://www.vfcev.de/content/eng-arti...es/001/001.htm

flyboy1024

you were able to bring your own test in the ame?

gmoney

hey folks....well, I have come across this same problem.....
my AME tested me once for color when i got my first medical, only showed me ONE ishihara plate which i could read, and i passed..early in my career I wanted to go military, while I was at MEPPS getting processed, they said I FAILED color vision.....I am now an ATP with a solid career, and have been going to the same AME for years, and he does not test my color vision anymore. He is getting very very old, as I am Getting very nervous about the prospect of finding a new AME....I am in CA
Any advice?

Dan64456

For one, I would b1tch and preach that you are a prime example with years of proof of why this discriminating nonsense is not a safety hazard. Second advice would be to call the AME's local to you and ask them what type of color vision tests they have. Ask them to come in for an off the record consultation (NOT AN FAA MEDICAL TEST) to see if you can pass their color vision tests. Once you find one you pass, ask what the name and edition of it is, and do this for all future medical renewals when you need to find a new AME.

gmoney

Good advice Dan....yes it is ridiculous, have had an airline job and now i'm 135. My vision has NEVER impacted my day to day work or life.... I had never even been told i had color issues until mepps...now that my ame will be kicking the bucket shortly, I am getting very anxious.

Thanks for the advice!

motoboy

I would try the Farnsworth lantern, after your current doc retires of course. This ame has about every color vision test accepted by the faa Home .

gmoney

Muuuch appreciated MOTOBOY....i'll take all the advice I can get.
This sure will be interesting, and i'm not looking forward to it.