For Class I and Class III Medical Certificates, an eye examination by a CASA Designated Aviation Ophthalmologist (DAO) or Credentialed Optometrist is required with the initial aviation medical. If there are any eye problems subsequently, your DAME can refer you back for further assessment.
An eye examination is required by a CASA Designated Aviation Ophthalmologist or Credentialed Optometrist at age 60 and every two years after.
Prior to your Eye Exam
If you require glasses, bring them with you plus a spare pair of glasses. If you have had laser eye surgery or any other surgery to your eyes in the past, bring the surgical report with you or provide details of the surgeon.
For the retinal examination, your pupils will be dilated. The drops will last 2-3 hours, so bring a pair of sunglasses with you and preferably have someone else drive you to the DAO’s surgery. You will likely have difficulty reading or focus for near from the dilating drops.
What is included in the Eye Examination?
Your best corrected visual acuity in each eye for distance, at 1m and reading distance(30-50cm)
Your colour vision will be checked, as well as your eye movements
Examination with a slit-lamp microscope will check the front part of the eye, your eye pressure, the lens and the back of the eye. After your eye pressure is measured, dilating drops will be instilled to dilate the pupils so that a thorough examination can be performed of the back of the eye (vitreous and retina, including the optic nerve, macula, and blood vessels).
Your peripheral vision will be assessed with a Visual Fields test.
If you require further investigation of the optic nerve or macula, an OCT (ocular coherence tomography) may be performed. This is a non-invasive imaging test using light waves to assess and measure the layers of the retina. If you have any abnormalities at the back of the eye, a fundus photo may be taken of the retina – this will allow you to see what the eye doctor is seeing and can also be uploaded to your medical record for CASA. Occasionally, if a new eye disease is detected, you may need to undergo continuing monitoring by an eye specialist of your choice.
For normal Eye Examinations unrelated to aviation
If you need a normal eye check or have visual symptoms that required a thorough eye assessment, visit Sydney CBD Eye Clinic. This is a state of the art eye centre in the heart of Sydney, headed by one of Sydney’s leading eye surgeons, Dr Dennis Lowe. You can also find out more about eye conditions and procedures on the website.
For conditions related to the retina at the back of the eye, go to Retinal Associates, a large network of retinal specialists covering most of Greater Sydney. For residents in Western Sydney, Nepean Ophthalmic Surgeons in Penrith is part of Retina Associates but cover all eye conditions including cataracts and glaucoma.