Pilot Eyesight Requirements in India: What the DGCA Medical Checks (2026)

"I wear glasses. Can I still become a pilot?" It is one of the first questions students and parents ask us, and the short answer is yes, in most cases. The pilot eyesight requirement in India is not about perfect natural vision. It is about how well you see with your glasses or contact lenses, how healthy your eyes are, and whether you can tell aviation colours apart.

Key takeaways

• Glasses and contact lenses are allowed. There is no minimum for natural (uncorrected) vision.
• Class 1 (CPL, ATPL): 6/9 or better in each eye and 6/6 with both eyes, with or without correction.
• Class 2 (SPL, PPL): 6/12 or better in each eye and 6/9 with both eyes, with or without correction.
• Colour vision: pass the colour plates, or show you can identify aviation colours and coloured lights.
• LASIK, squint and high power are judged case by case, not rejected automatically.

Class 1 vs Class 2 eyesight standards

DGCA's medical rules are set out in Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) Section 7, Series C, Part I, Revision 7, dated 1 October 2025. Para 2.2 says every applicant is examined on physical and mental fitness, visual and colour perception, and hearing.

DGCA does not write its own eyesight numbers. It adopts the international standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO): Annex 1, para 6.3.3 for Class 1, para 6.4.3 for Class 2, and para 6.2.4 on colour perception for every class. DGCA can add guidance through Public Notices and Flight Crew Licensing Circulars.

If you plan to fly for an airline, aim for the Class 1 standard from day one, because a Commercial Pilot Licence needs a Class 1 Medical Assessment. Our DGCA Class 1 and Class 2 medical guide explains which licence needs which medical, where to take it and the official DGCA fees.

What does 6/9 mean? Indian eye tests use the Snellen chart, read from 6 metres. 6/6 is normal. 6/9 means you read at 6 metres what normal sight reads from 9 metres, which is slightly below normal. These pilot standards are corrected values, so you can reach them while wearing your glasses or lenses.

Can you become a pilot with glasses or contact lenses?

Yes. ICAO's aviation medicine FAQs state plainly that there is no requirement for uncorrected vision for any class of medical certificate. If you need correction to meet the standard, a few practical conditions apply:

• You must wear the glasses or lenses while flying.
• You must keep a spare pair of spectacles readily available.
• Contact lenses are allowed if they are monofocal, non-tinted and well tolerated.
• People with a high power are expected to use contact lenses or high-index spectacle lenses.

What if my eyesight is very weak? The ICAO standard sets no fixed upper limit on spectacle power. However, if your uncorrected vision is worse than 6/60, ICAO says a full eye examination by an ophthalmologist is required. A high power can be linked to retinal problems, so the examiner wants to be sure the eye itself is healthy, not just that the glasses work.

Is LASIK allowed for pilots?

Refractive surgery is not an automatic disqualification. Under Annex 1, an applicant who has had surgery that changes the eye's focusing power is assessed as unfit unless free from after-effects that are likely to interfere with safe flying.

In practice, the examiner will ask for your surgical records and check that your vision is stable and free of problems such as glare or haloes. ICAO also notes that some countries and airlines have stricter rules. Speak to a DGCA-empanelled examiner before you book any eye surgery. Surgery cannot be undone, and glasses are perfectly acceptable in the cockpit.

Squint and binocular vision

Annex 1 requires normal binocular function, which means your two eyes must work together. A visible squint or a hidden eye-muscle imbalance (heterophoria) is assessed by testing how well your eyes stay aligned and focused.

Annex 1 notes that some eye misalignment may be acceptable where the eyes' fusion ability is strong enough to prevent eye strain and double vision. Because this is a specialist judgement, candidates with a squint, or a history of squint surgery, should expect a detailed eye-specialist assessment.

Colour vision test for pilots

Para 6.2.4 of Annex 1 requires every applicant to perceive readily the colours needed to fly safely. The check works in two steps:

1. You are tested on a series of pseudo-isochromatic plates (the coloured dot plates, such as Ishihara) under suitable light.
2. If you do not pass, you are assessed as unfit unless you can readily distinguish the colours used in air navigation and correctly identify aviation coloured lights.

Colour vision deficiency is a genuine hurdle for an airline career. Get your colour vision checked by a DGCA-empanelled examiner before you spend on training. Annex 1 also recommends that sunglasses worn while flying be non-polarising with a neutral grey tint.

What happens in the DGCA eye test

The eye examination is more than a chart. The examiner also checks near vision for reading instruments, your visual fields (side vision) and the health of the eye, including the retina.

1. History and declaration. Declare any eye problems, surgery, glasses or medication. Be completely honest.
2. Distant vision. Each eye is tested separately, then both together, with and without your glasses.
3. Near vision. You read a near-vision chart.
4. Eye examination. Your power is measured and the eye is examined, including the retina.
5. Alignment and fields. Eye-muscle balance and side vision are checked.
6. Colour vision. You read the colour plates, with a further test if needed.

DGCA's CAR shows how closely eye health is followed. Its list of conditions that can be attached to a medical assessment includes fresh OCT and Humphrey visual field reports with a glaucoma specialist's opinion, and an ORB scan of the cornea at the next renewal.

Bring with you: your current glasses, contact lenses with their case, and any past eye reports or surgery records. An outdated prescription is a common reason for a poor reading on the day.

Frequently asked questions

Can I become a pilot in India if I wear glasses?
Yes. DGCA follows ICAO Annex 1, which sets no minimum for uncorrected vision. You must meet the standard with your glasses or lenses, wear them while flying and carry a spare pair.

Is 6/9 eyesight acceptable for a commercial pilot?
Yes. For Class 1, each eye must reach 6/9 or better and both eyes together 6/6 or better, with or without correction.

What is the eyesight requirement for a Class 2 medical?
6/12 or better in each eye and 6/9 or better with both eyes, with or without correction.

Can I be a pilot after LASIK?
Possibly. You are assessed as unfit unless you are free from after-effects that could affect safe flying. Discuss it with a DGCA-empanelled examiner before surgery.

Can a person with a squint become a pilot?
It depends on how well your eyes work together. Normal binocular function is required, and some misalignment may be acceptable if it does not cause eye strain or double vision.

Is colour blindness a problem for pilots in India?
You must pass the colour plate test or show that you can correctly identify aviation colours and coloured lights. Test this before you begin training.

Plan your medical before your training

The pilot eyesight requirement in India is about safe, corrected vision, healthy eyes and reliable colour perception, not perfect natural sight. Know the standard for your class, take your medical early, and get specialist advice before any eye surgery.

Related reading: DGCA medical for pilots: Class 1 vs Class 2, where to get it and the step-by-step procedure · Pilot training in India: why 4 in 10 new commercial pilots still trained abroad

Not sure whether your eyesight or colour vision will hold you back? Airborne Aviation Academy in Dwarka, New Delhi offers DGCA CPL ground classes and a guidance session for parents. Contact our team or WhatsApp +91 9953 777 320 and we will help you plan your medical and training in the right order.

Last updated: 4 November 2026. Based on DGCA CAR Section 7 Series C Part I (Rev 7, 1 October 2025), ICAO Annex 1 Chapter 6 and ICAO's aviation medicine FAQs. This article is general guidance, not a medical opinion. Your fitness is decided only by a DGCA-empanelled examiner and DGCA.