Eye

This regulation sets the vision standards for a first-class medical certificate (required for airline transport pilots).

You must have 20/20 distant vision in each eye separately, with glasses or contacts allowed. If you need corrective lenses to meet this standard, you must wear them while flying. Near vision must be 20/40 or better at 16 inches; if you're 50 or older, you must also meet 20/40 at 32 inches.

You need adequate color perception for safety, normal visual fields, and no eye disease that interferes with vision or could worsen. The regulation also addresses eye alignment and coordination—if initial screening shows significant misalignment (specific prism diopter thresholds), the FAA may require examination by an eye specialist to verify your eyes work together properly. You can receive a medical certificate while awaiting those specialist results if otherwise qualified.

These standards ensure pilots have the visual acuity and eye function necessary for safely operating aircraft at the highest certification level.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*