Vision Test Question

F

FL900

Well-Known Member
A guy I know recently went for a second class medical and had a little trouble with the vision test. The wall chart wasn't a problem; a little harder to read with the right eye, but 20/20 in the end. But that little machine caused some problems. There were three tests. The first was diamond shapes with 4 circles inside, and the applicant has to tell which circle is a complete circle. The second was the one where you have to say which note the red line passes through. The only problem was that the line didn't really seem to even touch the notes, instead it was off to the right of them. The last one was the notes with an arrow above them, supposedly pointing at one of the notes. Once again, the arrow was way off to the right, not even close to the notes. Of course my first inclination is to blame the stupid machine.

So is it possible that the machine was screwy, or would it be more reasonable to assume that my friend has a real vision problem that needs to be addressed before next year's apointment?
 
These tests never caused any problems until now. Is it possible that such a condition can develop in a person who never had it before?

How much tolerance is allowed? Because the line and the arrow didn't appear even close to the notes.
 
Is is true that there is an FAA form you can take to an Optometrist or Opthalmologist, have the eye doc give and fill it out, then you give to AME
(in lieu of eye exam by AME) ?

I am not referring to post surgery, or for any problems; just in general.
 
You can take a form 8500-7 or have the eye doctor provide written documentation of the exam. Why would you want to increase your expense though:confused:
 
On my last Class 1 I had an eye exam the day before and had the doctor fill out the 8500-7. It was hard to read because the form the FAA provides online is extremely blurry. But anyway I did that because I always have issues reading the 20/20 line thru the AME machines but at my eye doctor using new crisp equipment and a dark room I can normally read the 20/15 line.

It was more an insurance policy than anything else and my AME said he would take the 8500-7 over his exam any day. Fortunately I didn't need it but it was there just in case and took the stress off my exam greatly.
 
What are the legalities of giving this part of the eye exam? I ask because two medicals ago I had to do it, but my last one I just had the chart.
 
My Flight Surgeon said:
You can take a form 8500-7 or have the eye doctor provide written documentation of the exam. Why would you want to increase your expense though:confused:
Click to expand...

I have an eye exam (checkup) so no extra expense. I have a tough time on the near vision test at the AME, but pass it no problem at the Optometrist.
 
Reading this thread reminded me of taking a flight physical with a different (new to me) flight surgeon many years ago. I couldn't read the line they asked me to read, nor the one above it, nor the one above that one either. The nurse made a deep sigh and said there was no chance I was going to pass the physical. Then she said that as long as I was there anyway, they may as well quantify just how bad my vision was, so she asked me to read the first line on the chart that I could read. As I started reading it she said "oh, you were reading the wrong chart, read the other one". Oh heck, you mean the one with those great big letters on it ...... piece of cake. Until then, I couldn't figure how my vision had gotten so bad without me noticing any change.
 
Along the same storyline as the above posters, I too had an interesting vision encounter at the AME. The week before my medical exam, I was at the eye doctor getting my contact prescription renewed. At his office, on fancy new machinery, my vision was better than 20/20. A week later at the AME office, I struggled to read the 20/20 line. The machine was some old, plastic thing that had seen better days. The nurse who was in the room with me kept telling me how my performance was not acceptable and I wouldn't be able to get my medical. After a few "try it agains" from the nurse, I managed to get through it. Unfortunately, there are no other AMEs nearby, and I will be visiting this same doctor very shortly. Hopefully I will have better luck this time.

What happens if you fail to meet the 20/20 standard? Is the medical is deferred (as well as current flying job) until you get new lenses and retake the exam to 20/20 old plastic machine standards? How does one correct to 20/20 old plastic machine standards when an eye doctor says one's "real" vision is already at least 20/20?


:insane:
 
A good AME will "hold" your medical while you go get new glasses for a day or two. Then you can retake the test. A solution in your case is to have your eye doc fill out the 8500-7.

Another solution is to go to a different AME. I once drove 4 hours to go to an AME that was "pilot friendly" vs. the one in town.
 
wheelsup said:
A good AME will "hold" your medical while you go get new glasses for a day or two. Then you can retake the test. A solution in your case is to have your eye doc fill out the 8500-7.

Another solution is to go to a different AME. I once drove 4 hours to go to an AME that was "pilot friendly" vs. the one in town.
Click to expand...

Okay excellent, thanks for the advice! :beer:
 
No problem, good luck with your eye test I know EXACTLY how you feel. My eye exam is scheduled right before my Class 1, this year is was even the same day.
 
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