Eyesight test before class 2 medical
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Eyesight test before class 2 medical
I intend to start PPL training soon. I know that before I'm allowed to fly solo I'll need to get my class 2 medical, which includes an eyesight test.
I haven't had an eyesight test since I was a kid, and I don't wear glasses; would it be worthwhile for me to get a separate test done before my medical so I don't get any nasty surprises and waste the fee? That would give me a chance to get any corrective equipment needed (specs) before undergoing the class 2.
What kind of eyesight test would be appropriate? Could I just walk into any high-street optician's store and ask for a free examination?
I haven't had an eyesight test since I was a kid, and I don't wear glasses; would it be worthwhile for me to get a separate test done before my medical so I don't get any nasty surprises and waste the fee? That would give me a chance to get any corrective equipment needed (specs) before undergoing the class 2.
What kind of eyesight test would be appropriate? Could I just walk into any high-street optician's store and ask for a free examination?
niknak
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£20 for a standard eye sight test.
£100 plus for a class two medical.
Make your own mind up as to whether it's worth the risk.
If you haven't had your eyes tested for that long, it's a big gamble to go to the medical without a proper eye test.
Recommended practice is to have your eyes tested every two years, although I have mine tested every year because I have to keep a class one medical, renewed annually.
The modern eye test is streets ahead of what it used to be, opticians are now trained to look for medical problems within the eye as well as just testing them.
They're also well used to advising people who need a certain standard of eyesight to maintain certain medical standards.
By the way, if you can find an optician that does an eyesight test for free, let us all know.
£100 plus for a class two medical.
Make your own mind up as to whether it's worth the risk.
If you haven't had your eyes tested for that long, it's a big gamble to go to the medical without a proper eye test.
Recommended practice is to have your eyes tested every two years, although I have mine tested every year because I have to keep a class one medical, renewed annually.
The modern eye test is streets ahead of what it used to be, opticians are now trained to look for medical problems within the eye as well as just testing them.
They're also well used to advising people who need a certain standard of eyesight to maintain certain medical standards.
By the way, if you can find an optician that does an eyesight test for free, let us all know.
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Choose a clean well lit car number plate. Measure the width of the letters - should be 57 or 50mm. Pace out 20.5 or 20metres respectively. If you can read the plate your OK. Now cover each in turn. If you can't read the plate with one eye march in to 10 metres. You should now be able to read the plate with the "bad" eye.
Now pick up the small ads/births/deaths etc. etc. of the local newspaper. Hold at 30-50cm. You should be able to read with both eyes together. If you can't do any of the above with or without glasses go see your Optician.
Finally check there is no "male" line colour blindness in the family. Assuming you have no symptoms of any eye problems you've just saved yourself £20!
Now pick up the small ads/births/deaths etc. etc. of the local newspaper. Hold at 30-50cm. You should be able to read with both eyes together. If you can't do any of the above with or without glasses go see your Optician.
Finally check there is no "male" line colour blindness in the family. Assuming you have no symptoms of any eye problems you've just saved yourself £20!
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Thanks chaps. I tried the car number-plate thing this morning, which wasn't a problem, and I think I can get a free eye test through my employer, so I'll go down that route to be safe.
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I'm now happy to report that I went for my free eyesight test today and was given the all-clear. The optician said my eyesight was considerably better than 6/6. Cool :-)
