Contacts For Backup Corrective Lenses

C

Corny357

Well-Known Member
I need to carry a backup set of corrective lenses on me and I cannot seem to get a clear answer on whether they have to be eyeglasses or not? Do contacts work for the requirement?
 
There is no requirement to carry backup lenses. I suppose if an employer has a requirement any lens would work but it would be easier to just put on a pair of glasses.
 
My Flight Surgeon said:
There is no requirement to carry backup lenses. I suppose if an employer has a requirement any lens would work but it would be easier to just put on a pair of glasses.
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Thank you!!

I have been hearing this myth for 10+ years. I wear contacts and have had everyone from co-workers to check airmen tell me I am required to carry glasses in the cockpit, but no one can ever seem to "find" the rule. Because it doesn't exist. My contacts never fall out, and even if they did, the worst that would happen would probably be a better than normal landing.
 
I believe it's an ICAO thing and you do need them in Canada, but yeah, I remembered hearing a long time ago that the FAA had no such requirement. I wasn't going to argue it with my company, tough. I guess I'll have to figure out whether or not contacts as backups works for them..
 
Corny357 said:
I believe it's an ICAO thing and you do need them in Canada, but yeah, I remembered hearing a long time ago that the FAA had no such requirement. I wasn't going to argue it with my company, tough. I guess I'll have to figure out whether or not contacts as backups works for them..
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yep required for international flights
 
I operate in Europe and have been told that perception sunglasses fulfill the requirement. This was from one of our first officers that is very by the book.

Sent from my GT-I9100
 
Since we go to Canada I always have my backup glasses. One day leaving Medford, OR in the early AM, one of my contacts just started bugging the crap out of me. I pulled it off, and it was somehow slightly torn. My eye still felt a little uncomfortable, and the absolute last thing I wanted to do was stick another contact in there.

I put my glasses on, and everything was fine. I HIGHLY recommend not having contacts as your backup.
 
It makes totally sense to carry a spare set of actual glasses no matter what your daily wear is. This days you can order online some very cheap prescription glasses, they are so cheap you won't even need to put them in a case to protect them.
 
mad2fly said:
I operate in Europe and have been told that perception sunglasses fulfill the requirement. This was from one of our first officers that is very by the book.

Sent from my GT-I9100
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Europe has some funny regs, have a friend that did LASIK yet by regulation he needs to carry a "spare" set of glasses.
 
This doesn't surprise me. I've seen a lot of regs here that make you scratch your head. I can't believe it every time I point out how sensible the FAR's are.

I never thought I'd be holding up the FAA as an organisation that did anything sensibly.

Sent from my GT-I9100
 
I had a contact pop out once when I was flying with a preprivate. I landed with one eye closed, and it wasn't one to brag about. A month later I got lasik.

Just a month ago I found my spare set of contacts in the unused pouch in my headset bag.
 
GypsyPilot said:
Since we go to Canada I always have my backup glasses. One day leaving Medford, OR in the early AM, one of my contacts just started bugging the crap out of me. I pulled it off, and it was somehow slightly torn. My eye still felt a little uncomfortable, and the absolute last thing I wanted to do was stick another contact in there.

I put my glasses on, and everything was fine. I HIGHLY recommend not having contacts as your backup.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I guess I was asking more in the sense of if I am wearing my glasses, can my backup corrective lenses be contacts. I always have my glasses with me whether I am wearing contacts or not. Anyway, I found an old pair and they still work so I just threw em in my bathroom kit.
 
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