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Sunglasses with vision correction for flying?

ryoder

By ryoder
in Miscellaneous Aviation Talk

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ryoder Veteran

ryoder

Posted
Posted

I have had near perfect vision my while life but when I did my medical I found out that at 38 I now have less distance capability in my right eye. Is it worth getting prescription sunglasses to get me to 20/20 or better for flying? Is there any drawback to wearing the and will it help me to identify aircraft that are a few miles away or landmarks in haze?

Hank Grand Master

Hank

Posted
Posted

I wear prescription shades because I see so much better with them. At my eye doctor this year, he said my glasses were too strong and gave me a new prescription. Viola! Road signs are much easier to read now. Then at my physical, I passed the eye test and no longer have "glasses required for distance vision" restriction on my medical. I've always been able to squint and pass the drivers license test, though.

So I guess it's up to you. Are you having trouble seeing things? Even my wife with uncorrected 20/20 sometimes can't spot traffic. Follow somebody on a flight and you'll get good practice spotting traffic at various distances, and head on / from behind are the hardest to spot. The. You'll know if you want vision help or not.

Landmarks in haze are hard to spot regardless, especially when looking towards the sun. Might as well call it IMC, it pretty much is anyway.

Danb Grand Master

Danb

Posted
Posted

In addition to Hank you shoul always keep your eyes moving...I'm having difficulty with depth perception all of a sudden the thinking I'm closer to the ground when entering the flare..

carusoam Grand Master

carusoam

Posted
Posted

How are road signs on the highway?

Subtle hint...

- you need to get closer to them to read?

- you run out of time to read it all?

If you slow to read them or can't read the whole thing in time, it is time to seek assistance...

Age has a funny effect on eyesight...

The shape of the eye changes making distance easier and up close more challenging...

That's how I understand it anyway....

I'm only a PP. No real eye experience other than my own...

Best regards,

-a-

Hank Grand Master

Hank

Posted
Posted

Age has a funny effect on eyesight...

The shape of the eye changes making distance easier and up close more challenging...

The lens in your eye gets harder and less flexible, making it more difficult to focus up close.

My ophthalmologist said age-related farsightedness will not compensate for my nearsightedness, but instead I would be plagued with both. When I moved and needed to read little green street signs, I decided it was time for a new prescription; it was almost time for my checkup anyway.

What counts is that you can see clearly. Do what it takes. If prescription sunglasses help, get some. Try www.zennioptical.com for inexpensive glasses.

WardHolbrook Experienced

WardHolbrook

Posted
Posted

I have had near perfect vision my while life but when I did my medical I found out that at 38 I now have less distance capability in my right eye. Is it worth getting prescription sunglasses to get me to 20/20 or better for flying? Is there any drawback to wearing the and will it help me to identify aircraft that are a few miles away or landmarks in haze?

I'm 64 and can still pass a 1st class medical without glasses (barely  :) ) but with glasses I've got at least 20/15 vision. I wear glasses when I fly. 

Hector Veteran

Hector

Posted
Posted

For me it's not a choice. I wear glasses. I like transitions. The new transitions have come a long ways. They darken significantly more and become clear quite fast. They also darken inside your car even if your glass has a UV coating.

Hank Grand Master

Hank

Posted
Posted

I recall that polarized lenses are not recommended for pilots. 

http://www.faa.gov/pilots/safety/pilotsafetybrochures/media/sunglasses.pdf

But they work very well for me. Sure, the occasional rare reflection from another plane is reduced, but so are the very frequent glares from my own cowling, wing, water, buildings, etc. I won't fly or drive without them, except in the dark.

cliffy Grand Master

cliffy

Posted
Posted

If you are going tor your medical just remember-

 

D E F P O T E C

 

is the 20/20 line. Just make it seem slightly difficult when you recite it!   ;-)     :-)

  • Like 3
Danb Grand Master

Danb

Posted
Posted

Hector do your transitions darken in the plane, and if so do the inhibit ones ability to see the gps, iPad etc...thanx...I wear variable but am close to needing them stronger and am considering transitions for flying...

Hank Grand Master

Hank

Posted
Posted

My transitions were never dark enough to fly with, although they did darken some. The new Transitions are supposed to be better, I dunno.

Hector Veteran

Hector

Posted
Posted

Hector do your transitions darken in the plane, and if so do the inhibit ones ability to see the gps, iPad etc...thanx...I wear variable but am close to needing them stronger and am considering transitions for flying...

They absolutely do and no problem at all seeing the instruments including digital read outs (they are not polarized). Make sure they are the transition lenses that do not depend on UV to darken. These are relatively new is my understanding. No problem at all with the iPad. Just make sure they are not polarized.
  • Like 1
Piloto Grand Master

Piloto

Posted
Posted

After my cataracts lens replacement surgery I was bothered with the increased brightness on my eye sight. So I went with polarized sunglasses which works great but impaired the visibility of my G530 and other instruments. I solved the problem by getting the smallest vertical width sunglasses and adjusting the nose pads so the bottom edge of the lenses is just slightly below the horizon line view. This allows me to see the instrument panel clearly without the lenses in the way. Works great when landing or taking off against the sun. I got the Caribbean Sun glasses from Walmart for about $60. They are sturdier than the Ray-Ban and have the arms spring knees.

 

José 

DrBill Mentor

DrBill

Posted
Posted

When I wore glasses, I used to get a new pair every year.  I took a recent pair in and had them tinted as dark as possible and they became my flying glasses.  They did it for free.  When I got radiation treatment for lung cancer in 09 I no longer needed glasses !  I use the dark grey American Optical pilot glasses  from a local PX.

 

Bill

garytex Proficient

garytex

Posted
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Bob, I understand the FAA's concern.  You can't use polaroids in all aircraft.  I went up in a pressurized twin to scout for fish before some tournament back in the '80s with my trusty polaroids, and I think the windows were laminated, and i couldn't see diddley. There was some kind of purple splotchy interference pattern that also looked like a stress map of the window.  

I have a couple of pair that I use in the plane, one is very dark grey, one kind of a brown color.  Both extend vision, especially details at distance through lots of air, with the brown ones the best for cutting haze in humid air.  

  • Like 1
1964-M20E Grand Master

1964-M20E

Posted
Posted

My transitions were never dark enough to fly with, although they did darken some. The new Transitions are supposed to be better, I dunno.

Mine are 2 years old and they darken well enough for me.  I have a new pair coming in January and we will see if they darken more.

Hank Grand Master

Hank

Posted
Posted

Bob, I understand the FAA's concern.  You can't use polaroids in all aircraft.  I went up in a pressurized twin to scout for fish before some tournament back in the '80s with my trusty polaroids, and I think the windows were laminated, and i couldn't see diddley. There was some kind of purple splotchy interference pattern that also looked like a stress map of the window.  

I have a couple of pair that I use in the plane, one is very dark grey, one kind of a brown color.  Both extend vision, especially details at distance through lots of air, with the brown ones the best for cutting haze in humid air.

I used to have a set of RayBan driving glasses that were brown. They were great, and let me put off glasses for a while. Now my prescription sunglasses are tinted brown, too. And polarized.

The windows in your other plane sound like how the rear windows of many German cars look through polarized lenses. But only the rear windows, not the front or sides; I have no idea what's different about them, but it's an interesting effect.

Bob_Belville Grand Master

Bob_Belville

Posted
Posted

I've never been very sensitive to bright light and with my 71 year old eyes I find I prefer to fly w/o sunglasses most of the time. I have some clip ons that I use when flying directly into a low sun.  

carusoam Grand Master

carusoam

Posted
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Garytex, are you a plastics/ polymers guy?

It's been a while since Polaroid film and stress mapping and gel counting were in my regime...

Best regards,

-a-

orionflt Veteran

orionflt

Posted
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After 47 yrs of not needing glasses I am at the point where i need them to read, over the summer I was swapping cheap reading glasses for sun glasses during my flights. this became annoying very quickly so last month when I went to my annual eye exam I ordered a pair of transitions glasses. I haven't used them yet for flying, but I like them for everyday wear, beats the dime store glasses any day. I did notice that they do not darken as much in my truck as they do when i'm in direct sunlight and at first the didn't seem to darken at all but i understand the have to be exposed to the sun for a bit when they are new to activate  what ever makes them darken. I'm looking forward to getting into the air to try them out.

 

Brian

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