Can you fly planes if you wear glasses?

The answer is YES – you can wear glasses and be an airline pilot! Perfect uncorrected vision is not a requirement to be a pilot or an air traffic controller. Glasses, contact lenses and refractive surgery are all (with certain limitations) acceptable ways to correct visual acuity problems.



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There are no specific height restrictions for pilots under FAA rules. Flight schools and commercial airlines accept pilots for training as long as they are physically able to reach the controls and obtain a full rudder deflection in the aircraft they will operate.

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Due to the risks to flight safety posed by ADHD, regulatory authorities worldwide consider ADHD a disqualifying condition for pilots. Unfortunately, pilots sometimes fail to disclose ADHD to their Aviation Medical Examiner (AME).

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In the U.S., there are no FAA age limits for pilots except for commercial airline pilots employed by airlines certificated under 14 CFR Part 121. These airlines cannot employ pilots after they reach the age of 65. However, these pilots may stay on with a Part 121 carrier in some other role, such as flight engineer.

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This includes those with cardiac failure, recent myocardial infarction (heart attack) or stroke, angina (chest pain) at rest, heart rate or rhythm disorders, uncontrolled arterial hypertension, severe anemia, sickle-cell anemia, acute mental disorders, epilepsy, and any serious or contagious diseases.

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Commercial carriers each have different regulations about LASIK for their pilots. American, Continental, and FedEx permit LASIK, embracing the same 6-week healing and stabilization requirement as the FAA. United Airlines allows LASIK, but requires a 12-week healing period after care.

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Both the Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) and the United States military allow pilots to wear glasses to correct imperfect vision. That being said, every pilot must have at least 20/20 vision in each eye with or without corrective lenses in place.

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There are short and tall professional pilots who might need aircraft modifications to ensure they can reach and operate the controls safely. While there are BMI guidelines that are considered part of your general health, there is no specific minimum or maximum weight required to become a pilot.

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In order to be legally blind, you must have a visual acuity of 20/200. This means that even with glasses or contacts, you can only read the first letter at the top of the Snellen Chart, if that. You can also be legally blind if you can see, but only in a very small window in your eye.

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