08 Sep Do You Need 20/20 Vision to Be a Pilot? What the FAA Really Requires
No, you do not need naturally perfect 20/20 vision to become a pilot. The FAA allows corrective lenses, whether glasses or contacts, at every level of certification, from private pilot through airline transport pilot. What actually matters is that your vision is correctable to a required standard and that your eyes are otherwise healthy. This surprises a lot of prospective students who assume weak eyesight is an automatic dead end before they ever pick up a logbook.
If you have been putting off scheduling a discovery flight because you wear glasses or had LASIK a few years back, this is the article that should put that worry to rest. Below is a plain breakdown of what the FAA vision standard actually says, what disqualifies someone, and what to expect at your medical exam.
What Vision Standard Does the FAA Actually Require?
The FAA requires distant visual acuity of 20/20 or better in each eye for a first-class medical certificate (needed for airline transport pilots) and 20/40 or better for second and third-class certificates (commercial and private pilots). The key word is “correctable.” If glasses or contacts bring you to that standard, you meet the requirement.
Near and intermediate vision standards also apply, mainly relevant if you fly aircraft with a lot of cockpit instrumentation to read at close range. An Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) tests all of this during your FAA medical exam using a standard eye chart, much like a routine visit to an optometrist. There is no separate “pilot eye test” with secret criteria. It is the same basic acuity test, tied to a specific numeric threshold depending on which certificate you are pursuing.
Can Pilots Wear Glasses or Contacts?
Yes. Wearing glasses or contact lenses does not disqualify you from any pilot certificate, and many working pilots wear some form of correction. The FAA only requires that you have a corrective lenses pair available in the aircraft in case your primary set fails or gets lost mid-flight, and that this is noted as a limitation on your medical certificate.
Contact lens wearers should know that monovision contacts (one eye corrected for distance, one for near) are typically not approved for flying because they can distort depth perception. Standard prescription contacts or bifocal/multifocal contacts approved by your AME are generally fine. If you are unsure whether your current prescription type is acceptable, this is worth raising directly with your AME before your exam rather than guessing.
What About LASIK, PRK, or Other Vision Correction Surgery?
Refractive surgery like LASIK or PRK does not disqualify you from flying, but the FAA requires a stable healing period before you can be medically certified. In practice, this generally means waiting a matter of weeks to a few months post-surgery, and your AME will want documentation of the procedure and confirmation that your vision has stabilized without complications like glare sensitivity or dry eye.
If you had surgery years ago and have had no complications since, this is typically a non-issue at your exam. If you are considering surgery specifically to improve your flying prospects, talk to your AME first. Some students assume surgery is a shortcut around wearing glasses in the cockpit, when in reality glasses were never going to hold them back in the first place.
What Actually Disqualifies a Pilot on Vision, and What Doesn’t?
Vision problems that typically raise concern are ones that cannot be corrected to standard, such as significant color vision deficiency for certain certificate privileges, progressive degenerative eye disease, or uncorrected acuity so poor that no lens combination reaches the threshold. These are the exception, not the rule, and most cases still have a path forward.
Color vision deficiency deserves its own note because it is one of the most common vision-related questions after “do I need 20/20.” A pilot with color vision deficiency can often still be certified, sometimes with a limitation restricting night flying or requiring the use of light gun signals to be demonstrated, and sometimes cleared fully through alternative testing. It is rarely an automatic disqualification, just a step that may require extra documentation.
For a broader look at what does and does not disqualify a student from the FAA medical certificate overall, including conditions beyond vision, our guide on getting your FAA medical certificate walks through the full exam process and what examiners are actually screening for.
How to Prepare for the Vision Portion of Your Medical Exam
The best preparation is simple: bring your current glasses or contacts to the exam, and bring documentation if you have had recent eye surgery or an existing diagnosis like color vision deficiency. Do not try to “study” for an eye chart or skip your correction on exam day thinking it will look better without it.
If you already suspect a vision issue, get it evaluated by an eye doctor before you schedule your FAA medical exam rather than during it. An AME can tell you whether something is disqualifying, but they are not there to diagnose or treat an unknown condition on the spot. Students who get ahead of this tend to have a much smoother medical exam and a clearer path toward starting lessons.
If your medical exam is the last item standing between you and your first flight, our team can help you understand what to expect before you commit to a training program. Get in touch with Pray Aviation and we can talk through your specific situation.
Vision Requirements Differ by Certificate, Not Just by Eyesight
The acuity standard you need to meet depends on which medical certificate class you are pursuing, not just how good your eyesight happens to be. A student aiming for a private pilot certificate only needs a third-class medical, with its more lenient 20/40 correctable standard, while someone aiming for the airlines will eventually need a first-class medical with the stricter 20/20 correctable standard.
This matters for planning. If you are unsure yet whether you are training recreationally or building toward a professional career, it is worth reading about the practical differences in recreational flying versus a professional pilot career, since your long-term goal affects which medical certificate class you should be targeting from day one, vision requirements included.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the FAA require perfect eyesight without any correction?
No. The FAA requires vision to be correctable to 20/20 for a first-class medical certificate or 20/40 for second and third-class certificates. Glasses and contact lenses are fully accepted as long as they bring your vision to that standard.
Will color blindness stop me from becoming a pilot?
Not automatically. Many pilots with color vision deficiency are certified, sometimes with a limitation such as no night flying, and sometimes cleared entirely through alternative FAA testing methods. It is worth discussing with your AME early rather than assuming it is disqualifying.
How soon after LASIK can I get my FAA medical certificate?
You generally need to wait until your vision has stabilized after LASIK or PRK, which your AME will confirm with documentation from your eye surgeon. This is typically a matter of weeks to a few months, not a permanent restriction.
Can I wear contact lenses while flying instead of glasses?
Yes, standard prescription contacts are accepted. Monovision contacts, which correct one eye for distance and one for near vision, are typically not approved because they can affect depth perception in the cockpit.
What happens if my vision does not meet the standard even with correction?
If corrected vision still falls short, your AME may issue a special issuance or refer your case for further review rather than an automatic denial. It is uncommon for vision alone to permanently end someone’s path to a pilot certificate.
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