contact lenses

[SQ]

I made a search in the RAC website but didin't find any info
can you fly with lenses instad of glasses ?
is there a minimu correction to have to do that ?
thx

[rightseatwonder]

As far as I know Yes you can. My license says glasses or contact lenses must be worn. When you get your medical you have to bring both tested with both and you must carry glasses on board. sorry no link.
cheers,
RSW

[Uncle Leo]

Indeed you can as long as it is noted on your medical. ON your initial visit to your medical examiner, you will need a letter from your optomitrist stating that you have successfully been wearing them for at least 6 months with no observed issues. That will earn you "corrective lenses must be worn"...still keep a set of glasses handy though!

[Czar]

Just to clarify, is the letter from the optometrist enough? Or, do I have to do the vision test twice (w/ and w/o contacts)?

[YWGVOR]

I didn't even have a letter from my eye doctor on the initial.. I just told them I had been wearing contacts for the last 10 years and that was the end of the story.... I usually go every year and get an exam done just to keep them happy as my eyesite well to say it politely sucks without contacts... As long as you are correctable to 20/20 these days there is usually not an issue. I fall WAY outside the of the recommended CAT 1 standards and no one has ever said a thing.

[AUGER9]

I didn't need a letter either. Just took both glasses and contacts to my initial medical (cat 1), and he tested my sight with both. That was all there was too it.

[Louis]

I looked into wearing contacts after I started flying, last time I met my AME, he gave me a one page form for the optometrist to fill out.

It asks:
-Since when does the candidate wear contact lenses?
-Can they be worn for at least six consecutive hours?
-Reasons stated by the candidate to wear contact lenses?
-Visual acuity O.D. (right eye)/O.S. (left eye) non-corrected and corrected, far and near
-Refraction errors: dioptry, spherical, cylindrical OD/OS
-Oculo-motor muscle balance
-Any ocular pathology?
-Lens adjustment
-Your opinion on the physiological and psychological acceptance of the contact lenses by the patient?
-Type of contact lenses: soft or rigid

I was instructed to simply bring the completed form back when I wanted my medical to be amended. I don't remember whether or not the AME said he'd need me to bring both glasses and contacts for an acuity test.

Goodbye,

Louis

[onuslog]

I looked into wearing contacts after I started flying, last time I met my AME, he gave me a one page form for the optometrist to fill out.

It asks:
-Since when does the candidate wear contact lenses?
-Can they be worn for at least six consecutive hours?
-Reasons stated by the candidate to wear contact lenses?
-Visual acuity O.D. (right eye)/O.S. (left eye) non-corrected and corrected, far and near
-Refraction errors: dioptry, spherical, cylindrical OD/OS
-Oculo-motor muscle balance
-Any ocular pathology?
-Lens adjustment
-Your opinion on the physiological and psychological acceptance of the contact lenses by the patient?
-Type of contact lenses: soft or rigid

I was instructed to simply bring the completed form back when I wanted my medical to be amended. I don't remember whether or not the AME said he'd need me to bring both glasses and contacts for an acuity test.

Goodbye,

Louis

My AME also gave me a form of a similar format to be filled out by my optometrist.

[Red1]

I think it will depend on your doctor doing your medical. The first time I went in to get my medical with my contacts in the doctor asked me where my classes where, I told I was wearing contacts instead. When i got my medical in the mail it included contacts and glasses. Depends I think o how anal he or she is. However, i was asked once on a ride to show my spare glasses .. weird .

[Louis]

However, i was asked once on a ride to show my spare glasses .. weird .

Unusual maybe (first time I hear of this happening) but certainly not impossible:

(c) the applicant has a spare pair of suitable correcting glasses available for immediate use when exercising the privileges of the licence.

Note the use of the word "suitable"... You might need three pair of glasses to satisfy this requirement: One pair of prescription sunglasses and two clear ones to cover for both day and night flying.

Happy New Year,

Louis