Can Pilots Wear Glasses? Pilot Eye Surgery?
today we're talking about an important topic for aspiring pilots and anyone who wears corrective lenses can pilots wear glasses we'll answer this question and more [Music] [Music] welcome back to Aviator Inspirations my name is yarrow and I help take the mystery out of the aviation industry I make these free videos to help future aviators save time and money so consider subscribing so first and foremost let's answer the question yes Pilots can wear glasses the myth of pilots and eating perfect vision is no longer true even the air force allows corrective vision now in fact many pilots wear corrective lenses including myself Pilots can wear glasses or contact lenses to improve their vision and meet the vision standards set by the aviation Regulatory Agencies however there are some restrictions on the types of lenses and frames that Pilots can wear the lenses must not be too thick and the frames should not obstruct the Pilot's Vision which seems pretty obvious in addition Pilots are required to carry a spare pair of glasses with them in case their primary pair becomes damaged or lost now let's talk about the reasons why pilots wear glasses Pilots do need to have excellent Vision to fly safely as they need to be able to see distant objects clearly such as other aircraft or Runway markers we fly in all sorts of conditions including bad weather and night flying so taking care of your eyes is super important in addition Pilots need to be able to reap instruments gauges and checklists in the flight deck which requires a good close-up vision during one of my flight tests in the simulator I decided not to wear my glasses and I almost failed a flight test because I couldn't quite make Out The Runway and my vision isn't even that bad there still seems to be a bit of a stigma with Pilots wearing glasses but let me tell you when it comes to safety there's nothing to be ashamed of of wearing glasses if a pilot has a visual impairment they need to wear corrective lenses to meet the visual standards set by Aviation regulations let's now take a closer look at those vision standards for pilots in Canada to pass your Category 3 Medical for either a recreational permit or private pilot's license or category one medical for your commercial pilots license you must have 20 30 Vision in your dominant eye corrected or uncorrected if you want to learn more about passing your Aviation medical go check out my video in the United States for example according to the FAA Pilots must have at least 20 40 Vision in each eye with or without corrective lenses Pilots must also be able to pass a color vision test which ensures that they can distinguish between different colors used in aviation lights and instruments if a pilot has a more serious visual impairment they may need to apply for a special issuance medical certificate which requires additional testing and evaluation to ensure that the Pilot's Vision meets the required standards for safe flying if you have any doubts about your vision always consult an aviation doctor before pursuing this profession now let's talk about the types of glasses that Pilots can wear as I mentioned earlier the lenses must not be too thick meaning the highest and lowest allowable refractive errors are plus eight to minus eight diameters diameters are the optical power of a lens that refer to how much magnification you need the frames should not obstruct the Pilot's vision and the glasses should be comfortable to wear for long periods of time and that will not slide down your nose during flight a key tip do not get polarized glasses or sunglasses that is a topic for a different video but just make sure When selecting your lenses that they are not polarized now some Pilots choose to wear contact lenses instead of glasses contact lenses can be a good option for pilots who find glasses uncomfortable or who want to avoid the risk of glasses breaking during flight however it's important to keep in mind that contact lenses can become dry and uncomfortable at high altitudes so Pilots should choose lenses that are designed for extended wear if a pilot wears contact lenses they should also carry a spare set with them just in case your primary pair becomes uncomfortable or damaged what about eye surgery in Canada you can get laser eye surgery but you will lose your Aviation medical for approximately six months while you wait for your eyes to heal and then deal with the paperwork to get your Aviation medical back so to wrap it up Pilots can indeed Rock their specs while Flying high in the sky make sure to carry a second pair because at the end of the day Pilots need to have eagle eyes to fly safely and glasses or contact lenses can help them achieve that so whether you're a seasoned pilot or just someone who loves to wear stylish frames always remember to keep your vision in check and never be afraid to flaunt your glasses even if you're flying a plane as always if you have Aviation related questions leave them down below thank you for watching and I'll see you in the next episode foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]
