{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2011-1178/annex-IV/division-SUBPART+B/section-2/division-MED.B.070",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2011-1178/annex-IV/division-SUBPART+B/section-2/division-MED.B.070.json",
  "legislation": "eur/2011/1178",
  "legislation_title": "Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 of 3 November 2011 laying down technical requirements and administrative procedures related to civil aviation aircrew pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance)",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2011-1178",
  "path": "annex/IV/division/SUBPART+B/section/2/division/MED.B.070",
  "kind": "division",
  "number": "MED.B.070",
  "heading": "Visual System",
  "text": "(a) Examination\n(1)For a class 1 medical certificate:\n(i)a comprehensive eye examination shall form part of the initial examination and shall be undertaken when clinically indicated and periodically, depending on the refraction and the functional performance of the eye.\n(ii)a routine eye examination shall form part of all revalidation and renewal examinations.\n(2)For a class 2 medical certificate:\n(i)a routine eye examination shall form part of the initial and all revalidation and renewal examinations.\n(ii)a comprehensive eye examination shall be undertaken when clinically indicated.\n(b) Visual acuity\n(1)For a class 1 medical certificate:\n(i)Distant visual acuity, with or without correction, shall be 6/9 (0,7) or better in each eye separately and visual acuity with both eyes shall be 6/6 (1,0) or better.\n(ii)At the initial examination, applicants with substandard vision in one eye shall be assessed as unfit.\n(iii)At revalidation and renewal examinations, notwithstanding point (b)(1)(i), applicants with acquired substandard vision in one eye or acquired monocularity shall be referred to the medical assessor of the CAA and may be assessed as fit subject to a satisfactory ophthalmological evaluation.\n(2)For a class 2 medical certificate:\n(i)Distant visual acuity, with or without correction, shall be 6/12 (0,5) or better in each eye separately and visual acuity with both eyes shall be 6/9 (0,7) or better.\n(ii)Notwithstanding point (b)(2)(i), applicants with substandard vision in one eye or monocularity may be assessed as fit, in consultation with the medical assessor of the CAA and subject to a satisfactory ophthalmological evaluation.\n(3)Applicants shall be able to read an N5 chart or equivalent at 30-50 cm and an N14 chart or equivalent at 100 cm, if necessary with correction.\n(c) Refractive error and anisometropia\n(1)Applicants with refractive errors or anisometropia may be assessed as fit subject to satisfactory ophthalmic evaluation.\n(2)Notwithstanding point (c)(1), applicants for a class 1 medical certificate with any of the following medical conditions shall be referred to the medical assessor of the CAA and may be assessed as fit subject to a satisfactory ophthalmological evaluation:\n(i)myopia exceeding – 6.0 dioptres;\n(ii)astigmatism exceeding 2.0 dioptres;\n(iii)anisometropia exceeding 2.0 dioptres.\n(3)Notwithstanding point (c)(1), applicants for a class 1 medical certificate with hypermetropia exceeding + 5.0 dioptres shall be referred to the medical assessor of the CAA and may be assessed as fit subject to a satisfactory ophthalmological evaluation, provided that there are adequate fusional reserves, normal intraocular pressures and anterior angles and no significant pathology has been demonstrated. Notwithstanding point (b)(1)(i), corrected visual acuity in each eye shall be 6/6 or better.\n(4)Applicants with a clinical diagnosis of keratoconus may be assessed as fit subject to a satisfactory examination by an ophthalmologist. Such applicants for a class 1 medical certificate shall be referred to the medical assessor of the CAA.\n(d) Binocular function\n(1)Applicants for a class 1 medical certificate shall be assessed as unfit, where they do not have normal binocular function and that medical condition is likely to jeopardise the safe exercise of the privileges of the license, taking account of any appropriate corrective measures where relevant.\n(2)Applicants with diplopia shall be assessed as unfit.\n(e) Visual fields\nApplicants for a class 1 medical certificate shall be assessed as unfit, where they do not have normal fields of vision and that medical condition is likely to jeopardise the safe exercise of the privileges of the license, taking account of any appropriate corrective measures where relevant.\n(f) Eye surgery\nApplicants who have undergone eye surgery shall be assessed as unfit. However, they may be assessed as fit after full recovery of their visual function and subject to satisfactory ophthalmological evaluation.\n(g) Spectacles and contact lenses\n(1)If satisfactory visual function is achieved only with the use of correction, the spectacles or contact lenses shall provide optimal visual function, be well-tolerated and suitable for aviation purposes.\n(2)No more than one pair of spectacles shall be used to meet the visual requirements when exercising the privileges of the applicable licence(s).\n(3)For distant vision, spectacles or contact lenses shall be worn when exercising the privileges of the applicable licence(s).\n(4)For near vision, a pair of spectacles shall be kept available when exercising the privileges of the applicable licence(s).\n(5)A spare set of similarly correcting spectacles, for distant or near vision as applicable, shall be readily available for immediate use when exercising the privileges of the applicable licence(s).\n(6)If contact lenses are worn when exercising the privileges of the applicable licence(s), they shall be for distant vision, monofocal, and non-tinted and well-tolerated.\n(7)Applicants with a large refractive error shall use contact lenses or high-index spectacle lenses.\n(8)Orthokeratological lenses shall not be used.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Substituted by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/27 of 19 December 2018 amending Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 laying down technical requirements and administrative procedures related to civil aviation aircrew pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance)."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Word in Annex 4 points MED.B.050-MED.B.080 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 318(3) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2011/1178/annex/IV/division/SUBPART+B/section/2/division/MED.B.070",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T14:49:46.231029+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}