Visual Fields
EASA MED.B.070 (e) states that
“Applicants 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 licence, taking
account of any appropriate corrective measures where relevant”.
For clarity, the UK CAA defines "normal fields of vision" as
follows:
Monocularly,
on Esterman field testing, there should be no more than two confluent missed
spots within 20 degrees vertically from the primary position and 30 degrees
horizontally from the primary position.
Where the monocular Esterman
field is abnormal in either or both eyes, a binocular Esterman test should be
carried out. Visual field defects in either or both eyes may be acceptable
where they compensate for one another such that the Esterman binocular field is
satisfactory.
A satisfactory binocular Esterman
field is one in which there are no more than 4 missed spots, of which not more
than 2 shall be contiguous in the visual field defined horizontally by 60
degrees either side of the primary position and vertically by 20 degrees above
the primary position and 30 degrees below the primary position.
Visual fields should be carried
out on Humphrey or Octopus field analysers. Goldman kinetic fields may be
requested by the CAA when clarification is required on static field
abnormalities and may form an acceptable alternative in situations where
individuals cannot cope with automated perimetry.
Binocular Vision
There are three grades of
binocular vision in the Worth’s classification: simultaneous macular perception
(Grade 1), fusion (Grade 2) and stereopsis (Grade 3). For the purposes of
aeromedical certification, ‘normal
binocular function’ includes all of these. This would include situations in
which individuals have well-adapted heterotropia, are not at risk of diplopia,
and/or have adopted a suppression scotoma when both eyes are open.