Definition
Eyeglasses or contact lenses prescribed to correct a refractive vision deficiency so the wearer meets a required visual acuity standard. In aviation, when a pilot's medical certificate carries a limitation requiring corrective lenses, the lenses must be worn while exercising the privileges of the certificate.
Plain English
Glasses or contacts that fix your vision so you can see clearly enough to fly. If your medical says you need them, you must wear them whenever you fly.
Context Anchor
Seen on FAA medical certificates, medical application forms, and flight documents when a pilot must wear glasses or contacts while exercising pilot privileges.
Derivation
From Latin 'corrigere' (to make right) and 'lens' (originally meaning 'lentil,' because early glass lenses were shaped like lentil seeds). Together: a shaped piece of glass or plastic that makes vision right.
Why Pilots Care
If the medical certificate requires them, they must be worn during flight or the certificate and privileges become invalid, creating both legal and safety issues.
Intuition Check
Corrective lenses do not mean the pilot’s eyes have been permanently fixed. They mean the pilot’s vision meets the required standard while wearing the glasses or contacts.
Example Sentence 1
His medical certificate states 'must wear corrective lenses,' so he keeps a backup pair of glasses in his flight bag on every flight.
Example Sentence 2
The examiner noted that corrective lenses were required on the third-class medical and verified they were in use during the flight test.