If you have bad eye sight, would that affect your chance of being a police officer?

**nicenshygirl** · 12-10-07, 06:23 PM

Well, I can see things up close really well, but if I were to see things from a distant, then it tends to get a little blurry, unless I have my glasses on. I do see some officers out there who do wear glasses, but would it affect you, on being hired, because I'm sure there are other applicants who might have better eye sight than me. Also, if I were to get laser surgery, for better vision, would that disqualify me? Thanks in advance.

**Jks9199** · 12-10-07, 06:43 PM

It all depends on the agency. Many now are accepting some types of laser surgery for some corrections. Most agencies accept a certain degree of bad vision, as long as it's correctable to 20/20. (You still need to be able to see well enough to function if your glasses or contacts are lost for some reason.)

What you need to know is exactly what your vision is (20/30, 20/50, 20/200, for example), and then check with the agencies where you want to apply. Find out what they're uncorrected standards are, and what methods of correction (to include surgical) they'll accept.

**Five-0** · 12-10-07, 06:55 PM

Laser surgery worked for me. Best money I have spent.

**nicenshygirl** · 12-10-07, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by Five-0

Laser surgery worked for me. Best money I have spent.

Did it hurt?

**jmur5074** · 12-10-07, 07:09 PM

You'll have to check with individual departments.

They all set their own standards.

**Five-0** · 12-10-07, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by nicenshygirl

Did it hurt?

No. Doc gave me a valium before and then gave me some eye numbing drops. It is wierd b/c you watch the whole thing. Still very much worth it.

**Lazy Fed** · 12-10-07, 07:16 PM

I have glasses but then again I really don't do anything.

**mack** · 12-10-07, 07:25 PM

I need glasses for reading, my distance vision is slightly off, but not enough to cause a problem, matter of fact when I qualify with a weapon, if I wear my glasses, I don't shoot as well as I do without them. I had a vision test on hire and I didn't have a problem at all.

**PapaBear** · 12-10-07, 07:25 PM

California Highway Patrol vision requirements:

Vision:

The candidate must read from a standard Eye Test chart.
If eyeglasses or hard contact lenses are worn, uncorrected vision must be no less than 20/40 in each eye and corrected to 20/20 in each eye. Applicants who have successfully worn soft contact lenses for the past 12 months are not required to meet an uncorrected standard, as long as their corrected vision is 20/20 in each eye. Normal color vision is required as assessed by the Farnsworth-Munsell D-15 test. An X-Chrom Lens is prohibited.

**MacLean** · 12-10-07, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by nicenshygirl

Did it hurt?

Mine hurt briefly because I neglected to tell the doc I was a slow reactor to lidocaine, but after he squirted some more in and waited I felt nothing at all.

It is a trip to watch though!

20/20 again!

**Cidp24** · 12-10-07, 11:01 PM

I have dealt with that the entire time I have been a police officer. I used to wear glasses and it was not a big deal, except for summer nights when I had my AC all the way up and my glasses fogged over instantly when I stepped out of the car. I got in the habit of taking them off as I got out of the car but I was not comfortable with not being able to see as well as I should. I went to daily disposable soft contacts and it worked out GREAT. I can even ride ATVs in dust with the ones I wear with no problem. I do want to get surgery eventually but the cost and the fact that long term effects have not been documented are prohibitive.

**Jks9199** · 12-10-07, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by PapaBear

California Highway Patrol vision requirements:

Vision:

The candidate must read from a standard Eye Test chart.
If eyeglasses or hard contact lenses are worn, uncorrected vision must be no less than 20/40 in each eye and corrected to 20/20 in each eye. Applicants who have successfully worn soft contact lenses for the past 12 months are not required to meet an uncorrected standard, as long as their corrected vision is 20/20 in each eye. Normal color vision is required as assessed by the Farnsworth-Munsell D-15 test. An X-Chrom Lens is prohibited.

Interesting... Are officers who meet the soft-contact criteria forbidden from wearing glasses? My wife uses the extended wear contacts, and she has to give her eyes a break every few months.

**bayern** · 12-11-07, 07:33 AM

Not really, after the academy they will put you on Night Traffic Patrol

**PapaBear** · 12-11-07, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by Jks9199

Interesting... Are officers who meet the soft-contact criteria forbidden from wearing glasses? My wife uses the extended wear contacts, and she has to give her eyes a break every few months.

Certainly, once out of the academy she can wear glasses if she desires. The reason for the 20/40 maximum - uncorrected - is officer safety. Many officers do. In fact, many officers have to wear glasses after a couple of years.

**Jks9199** · 12-11-07, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by PapaBear

Certainly, once out of the academy she can wear glasses if she desires. The reason for the 20/40 maximum - uncorrected - is officer safety. Many officers do. In fact, many officers have to wear glasses after a couple of years.

I understood that... but the CHP standard listed said that an officer who has shown that they can wear soft contacts DOESN'T have to meet the uncorrected standard. In other words -- their vision could be way below the standard without glasses. If that officer wears glasses for work one day, for whatever reason, then they CAN'T see if the glasses fog up or get knocked off.

To me, if they're hired and pass the vision testing based on the soft contact exception, I think you'd have to flag them as required to wear the contacts, unless the meet the uncorrected standard -- for those same officer safety reasons.

**cntryboy0531** · 12-12-07, 02:08 AM

Here, as long as you can see corrected to a certain requirement you are fine.

If my glasses are off, I just shoot for the middle of the blur. Works ok for the most part.

**MacLean** · 12-15-07, 03:24 AM

Originally Posted by cntryboy0531

Here, as long as you can see corrected to a certain requirement you are fine.

If my glasses are off, I just shoot for the middle of the blur. Works ok for the most part.

Shoot the one in the middle! LOL

**cntryboy0531** · 12-16-07, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by maclean

Shoot the one in the middle! LOL

Little bit better than spray and pray.

phoenix · 12-19-07, 01:48 AM

Originally Posted by Five-0

No. Doc gave me a valium before and then gave me some eye numbing drops. It is wierd b/c you watch the whole thing. Still very much worth it.

What if you refuse to take drugs,,AND the laser misses?

:

**trdvet** · 12-22-07, 12:28 PM

My vision was 20/400 when I first joined. The limit is 20/100 but they allowed my to wear my contacts and I passed the vision test. A little later I got LASIK which was the best money I've ever spent.