Luke SkyToddler and Number Cruncher,
Where did you hear/read that up to -5 dioptres is accepted for a class one at an initial examination? Would be most interested in finding out.
JARs still state, despite a recent amendment (1.6.2002), that the limit for refractive errors is, regarding myopia, -3 at initial. For renewal and revalidation up to -5 dioptres is allowed, provided certain requirements are met.
As I said, I'm most interested to find out, especially since I spoke to a CAA doctor in a Nordic JAA country who spoke of a Notice of Proposed Amendment being on it's way. The NPA would, according to him, mean that you could still get a class one initial even if you're over -3 dioptres (but not over -5), provided that you satisfy certain additional criteria (stable vision during the past four years, no pathological disorders, optimum vision correction used (i.e contact lenses)). The NPA would no longer contain the requirement of "experienced to the satisfaction of the national authority" which is one of the criteria for renewal and revalidation at present.
Cheers,
Cosmo