To what degree does vision need to be corrected for 3rd class medical?
Posted by Flat-Barracuda1268@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 10 comments
I'm in my 50s. I get a 3rd class medical every 2 years, I just fly GA. The last time I noticed that while my left eye was fine my right eye was a little fuzzy on the 20/20 line on the (ancient) paper eyechart. I just had an actual eye exam done, and it confirmed that my right eye is starting to go slightly farsighted. In laymans terms, my left eye is 20/20 and my right eye is 20/25 or maybe 20/30. The doctor said "optional correction, your combined vision is 20/20".
My question is what is the standard for an FAA medical? Must vision be corrected to 20/20 or can you pass with less than perfect vision in one of your eyes?
FWIW, I already use cheaters for near vision and my medical already has the "must fly with glasses available" limitation, paraphrased. I'm just debating whether I need to get bifocals with a slight prescription in my right eye or if I can stick with cheaters for now.
Virian@reddit
If you just fly GA, switch to basic med and don’t worry about it.
Flat-Barracuda1268@reddit (OP)
I would have to find a doctor that knows CMEC and is willing to sign. My current annual physical is done with a very good PA, but she cannot sign it. Easier just to do an FAA medical it takes 15 minutes every couple of years.
ltcterry@reddit
Ask if your AME will do BasicMed.
Flat-Barracuda1268@reddit (OP)
Huh never considered that. Are they allowed to do that? Reason I ask is everyone that goes basicmed because they're afraid they will lose the ability if they do an actual physical mentions that your previous medical is void as soon as you walk into the AMEs office.
Mispelled-This@reddit
Your current medical is not voided until a final decision is made on the next one.
However, if you become aware of a condition that makes you medically unfit, which an AME might discover (and be obligated to report if they know you currently hold a valid medical) during said BasicMed exam, then you are required to self-ground.
Caution: if your medical gets revoked, you are barred from using BasicMed until you get a new medical. So, if using an AME, I strongly suggest you wait until after your current medical expires and revocation becomes impossible.
ltcterry@reddit
Not every AME will do BasicMed, but they are all state licensed physicians and may do so. BasicMed is not a medical in the sense of “medical certificate from the FAA” and has no bearing on an existing FAA medical.
RaiseTheDed@reddit
https://www.faa.gov/ame_guide/standards
Flat-Barracuda1268@reddit (OP)
Perfect, thanks.
WMUFlyer@reddit
§ 67.303 Eye.
Eye standards for a third-class airman medical certificate are:
(a) Distant visual acuity of 20/40 or better in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses. If corrective lenses (spectacles or contact lenses) are necessary for 20/40 vision, the person may be eligible only on the condition that corrective lenses are worn while exercising the privileges of an airman certificate.
(b) Near vision of 20/40 or better, Snellen equivalent, at 16 inches in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses.
(c) Ability to perceive those colors necessary for the safe performance of airman duties.
(d) No acute or chronic pathological condition of either eye or adnexa that interferes with the proper function of an eye, that may reasonably be expected to progress to that degree, or that may reasonably be expected to be aggravated by flying.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
I'm in my 50s. I get a 3rd class medical every 2 years, I just fly GA. The last time I noticed that while my left eye was fine my right eye was a little fuzzy on the 20/20 line on the (ancient) paper eyechart. I just had an actual eye exam done, and it confirmed that my right eye is starting to go slightly farsighted. In laymans terms, my left eye is 20/20 and my right eye is 20/25 or maybe 20/30. The doctor said "optional correction, your combined vision is 20/20".
My question is what is the standard for an FAA medical? Must vision be corrected to 20/20 or can you pass with less than perfect vision in one of your eyes?
FWIW, I already use cheaters for near vision and my medical already has the "must fly with glasses available" limitation, paraphrased. I'm just debating whether I need to get bifocals with a slight prescription in my right eye or if I can stick with cheaters for now.
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