Is it possible to fly jet in the air force with less than perfect vision?

Question

Just wondering if there is any possibility of someone with near-sightedness to join the air force, with the possibility of becoming a jet-fighter pilot. I've always heard that most, if not all, pilots have perfect 20/20 vision or better. I've also read that those with Lasik eye surgery are not allowed to become jet pilots since there are concerns regarding their safety. Can someone please shed some light. Thank you!

Answer 1

Considering how many of them fly into the ground or each other and the fact that they cannot differentiate between friend or foe; I'd have to say that 20/20 vision is not a prerequisite.

Answer 2

A few years ago, the AF relaxed the 20/20 requirement to 20/70 corrected to 20/20 to be an acceptable pilot candidate.  There are other restrictions like color blindness, some else hit most of those.

As of right now, you cannot have LASIK and be an AF pilot.  PRK is ok, but you have to get approval from the flight docs for that and I think you have to get it done at an AF facility, but I'm not sure about that.

Don't know if this is a career you're interested in pursuing, but you could call an AF ROTC detachment if you are.

Nice call on the SEAR - imposter alert!!!

Answer 3

nope sorry

Answer 4

Bulldog: "SEAR trainer, United States Airforce"

Wow...imposter alert!  We have SERE, not SEAR.  As for the question, yes, its possible.  We have Raptor pilots at Langley that wear corrective lenses.

Answer 5

It depends on how severe your vision:

Currently it's 20/70 correctable to 20/20.

No colorblindness, astigmatism or nightblindness

Good depth perception.

If you wear hard contacts, quit.

If you wish to surgically correct your vision, PRK is the preferred method.  LASIK has the danger of the flap becoming displaced under high negative-G maneuvers.

If you have any other questions please PM me.

OBTW

For the smarta#%$ dissing my bro's, well MAYBE if the Brits used the proper procedures to mark their locations, and MAYBE if they let others in the command chain know what they were doing, friendly fire incidents would be minimized.

Read the friggin' reports

Answer 6

You must have 2020 or better. However if you have the lasik, then thats fine. You will do an eye test before you sign to join, to let you know. Good luck.

SEAR trainer, United States Airforce

Answer 7

No - not in the air force.

Answer 8

nope