It’s not as simple as it used to be to join the military. The days of showing up to an office and being shipped to basic training are done. Modern military requirements demand a rigorous screening to guarantee that each applicant will be able to fulfill their duties.
One of the most frequently encountered difficulties for new military personnel is to figure out what vision they must have in order to join each branch of service. This includes whether prescription eyeglasses or sunglasses are allowed. These requirements will also be reviewed at your local recruiting office or military entrance processing station.
We’ve gathered the complete details to help you determine if you qualify for service depending on each branch’s vision requirements.
Table of Contents
Army Vision Requirements
The army is the military’s largest branch, encompassing most of the ground movement and fundamental combat activities that the military performs.
Because the military may range from positions like standard rangers to helicopter pilots, we must consider some of the army’s unique standards for employment.
Army Rangers
The army’s standard infantry unit, Rangers, have vision standards that align to those of the army as a whole. The requirement is you need vision that corrects to acuity of 20/20 in one eye and 20/40 in the other. This can be correctable through prescription eyewear or vision correction surgery.
Army Airborne
The vision requirements for the Airborne units of the military are somewhat more stringent than those for the rangers.
Minimum distance acuity requirements for airborne troops are 20/20 in one eye and 20/100 in the other.
Army Special Forces
The special forces are a more elite branch of the military that needs 20/70 or better in each eye, with both eyes being correctable to 20/20 because they need excellent eyesight.
Navy / Marine Corps Vision Requirements
Despite being largely based on the water, the Navy has a substantial amount of air power that requires strong vision.
Unless the position is very specialized, the majority of navy standards will be comparable to those of other branches.
Navy SEALs
Despite being one of the most exceptional military units in the world, Navy SEALS only require a vision with 20/40 in the best eye and 20/70 in the worst eye and correctable to 20/25 with both eyes.
Navy Pilots
To fly a fighter jet, one must have perfect vision in both eyes. The 20/20 vision standard for a Navy or Marine pilot is 20/40 in each eye, that may be corrected to 20/20.
Navy Divers
Navy divers have the same vision requirements as Navy EOD specialists, which require at least 20/200 bilateral vision that corrects to 20/25. You also cannot be color blind.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Techs
The navy’s EOD standards are identical to the army’s 20/200 bilateral vision correction, which corrects to 20/25 without color blindness.
Marine Recon
Marine Recon operators need to have a 20/200 visual acuity to qualify for the force.
Air Force Vision Requirements
As the Navy, requirements for the Air Force are not as strict as they once were, thanks to updated correction abilities assisting those who need it.
In general, the majority of Air Force vision standards will be 20/70, which corrects to 20/20 in both eyes with corrective changes.
Air Force Pilots
To be eligible for basic flight training, a pilot must have vision no worse than 20/70 in both eyes that corrects to 20/20. Normal color and depth perception are required.
Air Force Pararescue (PJ)
The pararescue vision standard is the same as that of the Air Force Pilot.
Air Force Combat Controllers (CCT)
The vision requirement of a CCT is the same as an Air Force pilot.
Tactical Air Control Party (TACP)
TACP requires a 20/200 vision, corrected to 20/20 in both eyes.
Combat Systems Officer (CSO)
The CSO requirements are the same as the Air Force Pilot and require they have vision no worse than 20/70 in both eyes that corrects to 20/20. Normal color and depth perception are required.
Coast Guard Vision Requirements
The coast guard is one of the smallest branches of the military, so there are very few unique visions demands.
A mariner must have correctable vision to at least 20/40 in one eye and uncorrected vision of at least 20/200 in the same eye. The color sense must be determined to be satisfactory when tested by any of the following methods or an alternative test acceptable to the Coast Guard without the use of color-sensing lenses.
Special forces of the United States Coast Guards include:
- MSRT — Maritime Security Response Team
- MSST — Maritime Safety and Security Teams
- NCWS — Naval Coastal Warfare Squadrons
- PSU — Port Security Units
- NSF — National Strike Force
- TACLET — Tactical Law Enforcement Teams
These six units, under a single command, create an organized quick reaction force that can be deployed to handle natural disasters, environmental catastrophes, terrorism, and other threats to the United States and the world.
Engineering, Radio Officer, Tankerman, and MODU Standard
A mariner must have correctable vision to at least 20/50 in one eye and uncorrected vision of at least 20/200 in the same eye and need only the ability to distinguish the colors red, green, blue, and yellow.
List of Vision Disqualifications in the Military
Blindness
Anyone who is deemed legally blind to the point that no cure could restore their vision would be immediately disqualified from serving in the military.
Being blind in only one eye is comparable to being totally blind and just as disqualifying. You will not be eligible for military service if you suffer from total or partial blindness because you will not be able to fulfill the responsibilities required by any level of enlistment.
Color Blindness
The military does not have a specific color vision standard, but you will be tested on your ability to identify different colors when it comes to the military.
The military’s standard for color vision is based on the criterion that you must be able to differentiate between various objects that differ significantly in color.
This implies you’ll need to be able to tell the difference between red and green objects in order to demonstrate that you’re not colorblind.
If you do not pass the aforementioned vision tests or reveal that you are color blind on your medical application, you will be immediately disqualified from service in any branch of the military.
Astigmatism
A corneal astigmatism is a flaw in the cornea’s shape that was not caused by birth or another incident.
The reason this can lead to disqualification is that some persons with astigmatisms have severely blurred vision or poor image understanding without the aid of strong corneal correction. This vision problem can be an issue during service. Similar other vision problems like myopia and hyperopia will be evaluated during your medical evaluation.
Any astigmatisms that are more than 3 diopters high will be immediately disqualified from service, whereas less significant astigmatisms must be tested to determine whether military service is viable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to wear glasses or contact lenses in the military?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions when individuals inquire whether they qualify for service.
The problem is that there’s a lot of variation in how glasses may influence someone’s sight, so determining whether or not someone with glasses qualifies isn’t always straightforward. In most cases, you can join the military and wear glasses with corrected vision while serving. This will be discussed and evaluated during your onboarding and medical eval based on your eyes and glasses prescription.
You may wear your contacts during basic training to improve your eyesight as long as they do not change your eye color.
Is it possible to have PRK or Lasik eye surgery in the military?
Yes, you can serve in the military if you have had Lasik or PRK eye corrective surgery, including pilots and combat troops, assuming your vision meetings the minimum requirements. Many individuals who are thinking about or currently serving in the military consider Lasik.
In recent years, the regulations surrounding PRK and Lasik have evolved to enable people who have had the surgery to participate in flight training as well as military exercises.
Does the military cover the cost of PRK / Lasik?
The military may be able to pay for Lasik or PRK surgery in certain circumstances, depending on the need for vision correction and the situation.
But, you are mistaken if you think the military will cover the cost of surgery for any random service member. Typically they may pay for the surgery where the eye injuries resulted from active service. Besides that, it may be partially covered by your military insurance, but any remaining fees or costs would be your responsibility.
Are there any waivers for poor vision in the military?
Most vision problems that require waivers are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Some candidates will be swiftly accepted into service with a waiver, while others may require more testing or would be disqualified if they present a valid exemption.
The Defense Department provides more information about the Military Medical Waiver process.
Conclusion
There is a lot more to vision standards than simply how well you can see with or without glasses.
No matter which branch of the military interests you the most, there are a lot of considerations you need to make regarding your eligibility. There is a broad range of vision requirements that make a future applicant qualified, ranging from the individual branches to particular occupations within those branches.
We hope this information has helped you understand where you may want to look into the military now that you know a bit more about their vision requirements. If you have any further questions, you are encouraged to visit your desired military branch’s website and contact them for further information.
Want More?
Have a question about military vision requirements or want to learn more? Let us know in the comments below and check out our other guides for more information:
- Oakley Standard Issue (SI) | Military Discount Guide
- Top 7 Oakley Military Sunglasses | Field Review
- Can Air Force and Military Pilots Wear Glasses? | Navy, Army, & More
