Now, vision-corrected candidates too can join IAF

Aspiring to join the Indian Air Force as a pilot, but have vision problems? Don't lose heart for you may be eligible to commander the force's helicopters or transport planes.

Beginning this year, IAF has relaxed selection rules after which candidates with poor vision acuity can fly helicopters and transport planes after undergoing corrective surgery like LASIK and Radial Keratotomy.

The only condition is that the vision-corrected candidates have to meet basic post-surgery requirements set up by the IAF.

Earlier, the IAF refused candidates if they had undergone these procedures to improve vision.

"From this year onwards, we have relaxed the physical requirement regarding vision for all service officers in the graduate entry level. If they have undergone a eye correction surgery, but meet the basic post-surgery requirements set up by us, they stand a chance," Lt-Gen Yogendra Singh, Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services and senior Colonel Commandant of the force, said.

The IAF's condition comprises completion of one year of the vision-correction surgery at the time of application, post-surgery eyeball length of not more than 25.5 mm and cornea thickness of not less than 450 microns.

A candidate, after completing one year of having undergone LASIK surgery (for correcting myopia and hypermetropia) and meeting the other requirements, can be considered for flying a helicopter or a fixed-wing aircraft, says senior advisor (Opthalmology) at the Army Hospital Research and Referral, Colonel JKS Parihar.

LASIK is a surgery for correcting and lessening the defect or damage to the eye. Eyes are generally stressed during rigorous exposure to strenuous physical exercises at the entry level in the armed forces. Hence, the force earlier denied candidates who underwent vision-correction surgery.

This relaxation is applicable for 'Pilots flying transport aircraft and helicopters and all officers in the technical field, Aeronautical Engineers, basic Air Staff, Non-Technical staff, Ground Duties Officers, Security officers and Meteorology officers and officers in the medical field of the IAF', Air Marshal P Madhusoodanan, DGMS (AIR) said.

However, he made it clear that 'the relaxation will not be applicable at the entry level at National Defence Academy'.

This relaxation was first attempted with the Army in 2004.

"We have already proposed the same to the Navy too. We are also trying to see if there it can be tried among the jawans," Colonel Parihar said.