My Flight Surgeon
Sr. Aviation Medical Examiner
This is one of a series of threads regarding the history portion of the FAA Form 8500-8 that you complete every time you get a flight physical. For the vast majority of you, this will be just informational and you will not be affected. As with many of the conditions discussed here and elsewhere in these threads, there is a requirement for the pilot to provide medical records and physician documentation regarding the medical condition being reported.
Item 17.b. Do You Ever Use Near Vision Contact Lens(es) While Flying?
Here is one that catches a lot of people. Most folks wear contact lenses to correct distant vision but can also see near objects while wearing the same contact lenses.
The applicant should indicate whether near vision contact lens(es) is/are used while flying. If the applicant answers yes, the Examiner must counsel the applicant that use of contact lens(es) for monovision correction is not allowed. The Examiner must note that this counseling has been given. Examples of unacceptable use include:
If the applicant checks yes and no further comment is noted on FAA Form 8500-8 by either the applicant or the Examiner, a letter will automatically be sent to the applicant informing him or her that such use is/are inappropriate for flying.
The use of binocular contact lenses for distance-correction-only is acceptable.
Binocular bifocal or binocular multifocal contact lenses are also acceptable. The airman must provide a report to include the FAA Form 8500-7, Report of Eye Evaluation, from the operating surgeon or the treating eye specialist. This report must attest to stable visual acuity and refractive error, absence of significant side effects/complications, need of medications, and freedom from any glare, flares or other visual phenomena that could affect visual performance and impact aviation safety
* Italicized text is from FAA documents
Item 17.b. Do You Ever Use Near Vision Contact Lens(es) While Flying?
Here is one that catches a lot of people. Most folks wear contact lenses to correct distant vision but can also see near objects while wearing the same contact lenses.
The applicant should indicate whether near vision contact lens(es) is/are used while flying. If the applicant answers yes, the Examiner must counsel the applicant that use of contact lens(es) for monovision correction is not allowed. The Examiner must note that this counseling has been given. Examples of unacceptable use include:
- The use of a contact lens in one eye for near vision and in the other eye for distant vision (for example: pilots with myopia plus presbyopia).
- The use of a contact lens in one eye for near vision and the use of no contact lens in the other eye (for example: pilots with presbyopia but no myopia)
If the applicant checks yes and no further comment is noted on FAA Form 8500-8 by either the applicant or the Examiner, a letter will automatically be sent to the applicant informing him or her that such use is/are inappropriate for flying.
The use of binocular contact lenses for distance-correction-only is acceptable.
Binocular bifocal or binocular multifocal contact lenses are also acceptable. The airman must provide a report to include the FAA Form 8500-7, Report of Eye Evaluation, from the operating surgeon or the treating eye specialist. This report must attest to stable visual acuity and refractive error, absence of significant side effects/complications, need of medications, and freedom from any glare, flares or other visual phenomena that could affect visual performance and impact aviation safety
* Italicized text is from FAA documents
