Defence Forces vision requirements

Eglinton

I'm thinking about applying to the defence forces for a cadetship, specifically the Air Corp. I was wondering what the eyesight requirements were. If you wear glasses of any description are you excluded from becoming a pilot?

This is what it says in the brochure.

Vision must be uncorrected and not less than 6/9 in each eye with normal right vision

b. Vision Eyesight must be surgically untreated and colour vision must be
normal. Both eyes must be free from disfiguring or incapacitating abnormality and free from acute or chronic disease. There must be no evidence of
squint or latent squint. Applicants who have had previous incisional
or laser treatment to correct visual acuity are excluded from eligibility.

The first text is specific to the air corp and the second is also for the army and navy. Any help appreciated.

oq4v3ht0u76kf2

Ring the DF manpower office. I know there are gunners, NCOs and ossifers in my unit with glasses. I also know of several Naval personnel who wear glasses. I don't know if the Air Corps requires you to have 6/9 without glasses, but the DF manpower office in the Burgha or Baldonnel will tell ya. military.ie for their phone numbers.

leeroybrown

I'm no optician but offhand I think that '6/9' is the same as '20/30' and generally corresponds to a prescription of -0.5. But given how technical the expression of a prescription can be it might be hard to match the two.

I'd suggest that you do as Bob suggests and make an enquiry. I presume it's one they deal with quite a bit.

testicle

Vision must be uncorrected

This puts it pretty clearly. If you wear glasses, you need not apply.

leeroybrown

'6/9' is at about the level where people begin to wear glasses. If someone has this level of visual acuity then they can chose not to wear glasses.

pclancy

Just bring the brochure to your optician and they'll tell you exactly what the story is. If they have to do a test it wont cost much and will satisfy your curiosity. I did when considering commercial pilot training a few years back. Sadly my crap eyesight limits me to flying a desk.

tabatha

i know u cant join if you wear glasses anymore. use to be able to.

Ravage1616

You can join the defence forces if you wear glasses!

testicle

Ravage1616 wrote:

You can join the defence forces if you wear glasses!

This question is about the Air Corps cadetships. You are excluded from applying for a cadetship in the Air Corps if you wear glasses.

Army and Naval Service have different eyesight requirements.

Saruman

what about laser surgery.. its corrective so i wonder if it applies.. bearing in mind you can get procedures done to enhance vision, like a lot of golfers have had done.

leeroybrown

They don't take anyone who has had incisional or laser surgery. I don't know why but it may have something to do with the fact that these surgeries tend to regress slightly over time.

Saruman

seems a bit silly since so does ordinary vision
When i had my surgery i had better than 20/20 vision. I could see better than with my glasses even.
Might be to do with some side effects which can be tired eyes and more photosensative

testicle

Laser Surgery apparently fecks up your night vision over time, which isn't much good for what the DF want you for.

Saruman

My night vision is perfect!! Although dawn and dusk are pretty hard to see though for some reason.

testicle

Laser Surgery apparently fecks up your night vision over time

The Dawn and Dusk would be an early symptom.

Bam Bam

plus laser eye surgery makes the srtucture of the eye much weaker so you would be more prone to eye problems then with someone with untreated eyes.