AME eye test

little_cricket

little_cricket

Well-Known Member
Any AMEs use a regular eye chart for the eye tests anymore? They all seem to use those machines and I hate those machines especially the circles one. My eye doc says I'm basically 20/20 but have a bit of a stigmatism that's why they drive me nuts. What's the advantage of using the machines anyway? Seems as though a chart would be easier and cheaper. Anyway I digress, suggestions for an AME in Utah, Vegas, Phoenix, or SoCal? Thanks.
 
little_cricket said:
Any AMEs use a regular eye chart for the eye tests anymore? They all seem to use those machines and I hate those machines especially the circles one. My eye doc says I'm basically 20/20 but have a bit of a stigmatism that's why they drive me nuts. What's the advantage of using the machines anyway? Seems as though a chart would be easier and cheaper. Anyway I digress, suggestions for an AME in Utah, Vegas, Phoenix, or SoCal? Thanks.
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You need the machine to check for certain eye muscle/balance/fusion things. Eg, left eye piece shows musical notes, the right eye piece shows a red line, and with both eyes open looking in machine you have tell where that red line crosses which musical note. Stuff like that. You can't test that with a 2D wall poster/eye chart.
 
The FAA mandates what machines are used. The usual D-E-F-P-O-T-E-C chart is the standard eye chart that I believe can be used if asked.

You can get a form, I believe it's form 8700, and have an eye doctor fill it out. I go for my eye exam every year before my FAA check and have my doc fill that out. It states I'm 20/20 in each eye.

Also, FWIW, the answers to the eye machines are available all online with a quick search. Since there are only a few machines, it's not hard to narrow down the one you're using. Not that I would ever recommend that, just sayin'.
 
wheelsup said:
The FAA mandates what machines are used. The usual D-E-F-P-O-T-E-C chart is the standard eye chart that I believe can be used if asked.

You can get a form, I believe it's form 8700, and have an eye doctor fill it out. I go for my eye exam every year before my FAA check and have my doc fill that out. It states I'm 20/20 in each eye.

Also, FWIW, the answers to the eye machines are available all online with a quick search. Since there are only a few machines, it's not hard to narrow down the one you're using. Not that I would ever recommend that, just sayin'.
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Thanks for the info! I didn't know about this form that could be filled out by the eye doctor!
 
wheelsup said:
The FAA mandates what machines are used. The usual D-E-F-P-O-T-E-C chart is the standard eye chart that I believe can be used if asked.

You can get a form, I believe it's form 8700, and have an eye doctor fill it out. I go for my eye exam every year before my FAA check and have my doc fill that out. It states I'm 20/20 in each eye.

Also, FWIW, the answers to the eye machines are available all online with a quick search. Since there are only a few machines, it's not hard to narrow down the one you're using. Not that I would ever recommend that, just sayin'.
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Awesome info!!! I appreciate it. Thank you! I think I found the form, it's 8500-7. I just had my eye exam, so heading back there next week to fill out the form. Takes the stress away of a medical.
 
little_cricket said:
Awesome info!!! I appreciate it. Thank you! I think I found the form, it's 8500-7. I just had my eye exam, so heading back there next week to fill out the form. Takes the stress away of a medical.
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Just an FYI it's pretty much up to the AME to accept it or not. I think it's more for when you need to report issues direct to the FAA. But I give it to my AME and he takes it in lieu.
 
I know about DEFPOTEC but does anybody know what the NEAR chart in the little book says? [emoji23]


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My AME makes me do part of the vision exam without my glasses. Always thought that was weird. Though corrected to 20/20, can I "fail" something if my eyes get bad enough?
 
Cherokee_Cruiser said:
You need the machine to check for certain eye muscle/balance/fusion things. Eg, left eye piece shows musical notes, the right eye piece shows a red line, and with both eyes open looking in machine you have tell where that red line crosses which musical note. Stuff like that. You can't test that with a 2D wall poster/eye chart.
Click to expand...
wheelsup said:
The FAA mandates what machines are used. The usual D-E-F-P-O-T-E-C chart is the standard eye chart that I believe can be used if asked.

You can get a form, I believe it's form 8700, and have an eye doctor fill it out. I go for my eye exam every year before my FAA check and have my doc fill that out. It states I'm 20/20 in each eye.

Also, FWIW, the answers to the eye machines are available all online with a quick search. Since there are only a few machines, it's not hard to narrow down the one you're using. Not that I would ever recommend that, just sayin'.
Click to expand...
The nurse at my first AME two months and a year ago told me to guess on their awful fusion test so I did. Then, 5 months ago when someone finally noticed I entered the wrong birthday on my medXpress, :oops: I had to fax in a request to CAMI to change it. And then that's when I got the letter that I needed a 8700 because my vision was defective! What a load of fun.

Doc Davenport on the field at AUS has a much better fusion test machine so I was able to pass easily in March; we'll see if they want another eye exam...:confused:
 
The best advice I can give is to print off the FAA eye evaluation form and have your Optometrist do it! Best decision I ever made!! Bring the completed form to your AME and skip the whole eye evaluation. The last check at an AME got me so ticked off I said never again. I had just completed a very thorough eye exam at my Optometrist and the AME's nurse tried to tell me I almost needed glasses. I called BS really fast!! I can read the very smallest print (20/10) easily at the Optometrist under controlled lighting and calibrated equipment. Not only that the Optometrist told me that my eyes are so clear she doesn't even have to dilate them to see deep into them.

You would think with vision being so critical in aviation all AMEs would test under the proper conditions with calibrated equipment.
 
Those machines in the AME office are a joke IMO...They are find for the color blindness, astigmatism test, etc but as far reads this or is the circle open or closed they are joke. Is there any calibration ever done on them? Just go and get and get the 8500-14 or 8500-7 filled out with a quality eye exam.
 
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