For a 3rd class medical do I need to tell him that I wear contacts for distant vision?

Thanks

Yup...

You'll be tested to the normal standard. If you pass the vision test without correction your cert won't indicate that corrective lenses are required. If you need correction to pass the test your cert will note that corrective lenses are required for flight. At least that's how it went for me as I transitioned through the years from perfect vision to needing correction. It's no big deal.

...but it's not a big deal. Just make sure your wearing them during the exam and he'll make a little notation that says something to the effect of "contacts or corrective lenses required...".

Clippwagon

Well..... I took the test with them. He didn't ask somehow I forgot to mention.... Uhhhhhh

FAA form 8500-8, the pre-medical exam questionnaire, specifically asks whether you wear NEAR vision contacts and in another question asks about vision health OTHER than glasses. There is no question that required you to identify distance vision correction. So, as long as your prescription doesn't correct near vision you didn't withhold any required information. I'm no AME but I just read 8500-8.

The exam itself tests uncorrected vision, then corrected if needed to meet the standards. For distance. Sounds like the doc's office staff dropped the ball, and the AME just didn't pick up on it.

Gump

That's what my thoughts were going in and while answering the questionnaire. I'm only nearsighted and have no problem with near vision.

I'm the other. I can identify the sex of a mosquito from 150 yards but I can't read my watch. The first time I found out was in my AME's office during the vision exam. I read the little lines and the doctor came over and offered me her reader glasses. I asked what for. She said if I wanted to be a pilot I'd better put them on. I didn't expect readers to help with wall charts but I passed the test while wearing them. I have a near vision corrective lens requirement on my medical cert now. It says I must have corrective lenses available in the plane, not that I must wear them. Just a few years later and I'm like every other 50-something guy I know. I have readers laying around everywhere. I blame the computer. My doctor says it's the calendar. Go figure.

Funny (sort of) thing happened when the nurse checked my vision 25 or so years ago when I still had good vision. I was struggling (big time) to eek out 20/20 looking in the big clunky vision tester 'machine' (instrument?). Man I was just sweating it, cause I was sure my vision couldn't be THAT BAD. Fortunately she was patient and allowed enough attempts to manage to pass. By that time I was really relieved and puzzled. She reached over as I was starting to get up and reflexively flipped the internal lighting switch-ON..... I looked at her-she looked at me. We both knew the problem immediately. She mumbled something about "Oh, well, you passed", turned slightly red, and we moved on to the next part of the exam. Man, did I suddenly feel better!

It is funny.....now.
lc

It was a blow when the nurse told me to come back with glasses next year. Like everybody I knew I was struggling. At least the next year I found out the tree outside of our house actually had individual leaves on it.

When I got my first medical I had that restriction 'must carry corrective lenses' or something. Being terribly nearsighted I also carried glasses when flying with contacts. I couldn't locate an airport if I was standing on taxiway Alpha. Laser surgery in '00 & nolonger have that restriction, best $$$ I have EVER spent.