If my contact prescription is -5.75 am i unable to get my pilot's lisence?

Question

i am considered legally blind, my vision is worse than 20/200, i'm not sure what the snellen scale is for my perscription. I've always wanted to learn to fly but i'm worried that my vision is too impaired.

Answer 1

If you are American, check the medical requirement for the Sport Pilot license. If you are European, check your national Ultralight pilot license. It varies a lot.

I know of a French ULM (motorized ultralight) pilot who flies with a glass eye.

But the question is more: Would you feel safe to fly with your vision? Another important factor in becoming a pilot: Are you willing to risk the life of a passenger?

If you like flying for the sake of flying, you can obtain that by flying only one-seat ultralights. You will be limited to fly only visual and daytime. But ... what's the fun to fly in the clouds at night, right? :-)

Contact your local authorities and ... good luck!

Answer 2

Your uncorrected vision doesn't mean anything anymore.  Medical certification is based solely on corrected vision.

To be issued a medical certificate, you need 20/40 corrected vision if you want to be a private pilot and 20/20 corrected vision for any commercial operations.  You'll just be issued a restriction on your medical that you "must wear corrective lenses".

Answer 3

Yes. my dad is as blind as a bat and he still got his

Answer 4

I wear contacts and my prescription is -7.00 and -6.50 with nasty astigmatisms.  They want your CORRECTED vision to be good.

The requirement is that if I am wearing my contacts that I must have prescription glasses accessible from my seat while I am flying.  (I carry them in my headset bag).

Other than that, no problem.

Colour blindness may be an issue if you have serious eye issues.