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Clinical application of the new civil airman vision standards and certification procedures
1Federal Aviation Administration, Civil Aeromedical Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Introduction:
The final rule revising the civil airman medical standards became effective September 16, 1996. The purpose of this study was to review changes in the vision standards and procedures and how they relate to the clinical optometrist.
Methods:
Revision of Airman Medical Standards and Certification Procedures and Duration of Medical Certificates; Final Rule, (14 CFR, Parts 61 and 67) and the Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners, published by the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Aviation Medicine, were reviewed, and those parts pertaining to the clinical optometrist were summarized.
Discussion:
The uncorrected distance visual acuity standards for first- and second-class airmen have been deleted. New equivalent near-vision standards were established for all classes of airmen. A major change--for pilots > or = 50 years of age--was the addition of an intermediate vision requirement of 20/40 or better at 32 inches for both first- and second-class medical certificate holders. Although the third-class medical certificate is still valid for 24 months after the date of examination for those > or = 40 years of age, the certificate is now valid for 36 months for those < 40 years of age.
Conclusion:
The new vision standards primarily affect the elderly pilot. Ophthalmic considerations in the application of the new vision standards are reviewed.