Are you a pilot with a Class 1 Class 2 licence or an air traffic controller with a Class 3 licence? If so, regular aviation eye exams mandated by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) are crucial for your safety and that of air travelers. These exams, carried out by CASA-accredited professionals like myself, ensure your vision meets the high standards required for critical tasks such as navigation and cockpit management.
I’m Dr. Nandita Chowdhury, the owner and principal optometrist at Picton Eyecare, uniquely accredited by the Civil Aviation Authority to conduct CASA eye tests in Wollondilly Shire.
Read on to find out more about what you can expect when you book a CASA Eye Test with me.
What to Bring for Your CASA Eye Test
- Glasses and contacts: Bring your current glasses, sunglasses and/or contact lenses .
- Sunglasses for your comfort post-exam, and consider arranging a ride home.
- A valid driver’s license or ID.
- A list of any medications you’re currently taking.
- Information about any physical conditions or limitations.
- Any backup prescription eyewear you own.
- Your appointment will take at least an hour.
CASA Eye Test Standards
During your CASA exam at Picton Eyecare, I will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of various aspects of your vision and eye health, including:
- Spectacle Prescription Check: If you wear glasses or contacts, I’ll evaluate your current prescription to ensure it provides optimal vision correction.
- Overall Eye Health: I’ll conduct a general examination of the eyes to check for any signs of common eye conditions or diseases that could affect your vision or eye health.
- Peripheral Vision: Assessing your side vision is important as it contributes to a wide field of view, essential for monitoring airspace around you.
- Dilated Fundus Examination: I’ll dilate your pupils to examine the back of your eyes. This allows me to check the health of your macula and optic nerve, integral for maintaining good vision. You may feel sensitivity to light for three or four hours after this procedure so it is advisable to wear sunglasses and not drive during that time.
- Visual Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity: This test determines how clearly you see at various distances and how well you can discern objects from their background, which is critical in different lighting and weather conditions.
- Binocular Coordination: I’ll assess how well your eyes work together. This is vital for depth perception and smooth visual tracking, key for accurately judging distances and movements in aviation.
- Color Vision Assessment: I’ll test your ability to distinguish different colors, a crucial skill for interpreting cockpit instruments and navigation lights accurately.
- Advanced Color Vision Assessment: Depending on the results of the initial tests we may conduct more advanced testing methods. These could include the Farnsworth Lantern Test, where individuals must identify colored lights, or the Anomaloscope, which measures the individual’s ability to match colors.
- Depth Perception: The ability to judge the distance of objects accurately, which is crucial for tasks like landing and navigating in three-dimensional space.
- Stereopsis: This refers to the brain’s ability to combine the two slightly different images from each eye into a single, three-dimensional image, giving a sense of depth.
- Eye Muscle Balance and Coordination: Ensuring that the eyes can work together without strain or discomfort, which is important for tasks that require sustained focus, such as monitoring instruments and scanning the horizon.
Conclusion
The CASA Eye Test is more than a routine checkup; it’s a vital component of aviation safety and your professional longevity.
Regular eye checks are key to helping you detect and address any vision issues early, ensuring a long and safe career. It’s about more than just clear sight; it’s about having the confidence and peace of mind that you can meet the demanding visual requirements of your role.
At Picton Eyecare, we’re dedicated to supporting the aviation community. When you book an appointment with us, you’re choosing a team that deeply understands the unique needs of aviation professionals. We’re committed to ensuring your vision meets CASA standards, helping you fly with assurance.
You can call us on (02) 4603 2309 or arrange an appointment using the “Book Now” button in the navigation menu. We are conveniently located in the heart of Picton, NSW. There is plenty of parking available at the back of our store.
B.Optom (UoA), PGOT (UNSW)
Nandita is the principal optometrist of Picton Eyecare. She has over 15 years of extensive experience working in corporate and independent optometry practice. Opening Picton Eyecare in 2022 has fulfilled Nandita’s dream of an independent optometry practice, committed in serving the local community of Wollondilly and surrounding areas.
Nandita is caring and passionate about providing professional, personal and customised solution for every patient. She takes interest in all her patients and employs her skills and expertise to achieve the best possible outcome for the patient. She maintains great relationships with other medical professionals in the area.
Nandita is a local resident and has been working in the Southern Highlands for many years. She has a loyal following of patients who value her clinical and interpersonal relationships.
When not at work Nandita loves spending time with her family.