Are Spectacles Allowed in NDA? Myopia Limits & Vision Rules 2026

Decision Table — What Does My Current Power Mean?

Find your current spectacle prescription (the spherical power on your prescription slip) in the table below to instantly know which NDA wings you are eligible for.

Full Vision Standards by Wing

The decision table above is a simplified guide. The complete vision standards for each wing are given below. All three wings require Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) of 6/6 in each eye — the difference is in how much refractive error is allowed, and what uncorrected vision is acceptable.

NDA Army Wing — Spectacles Details

The Army wing has the most permissive vision standards among the three NDA wings. Spectacles are allowed at the medical examination and the candidate can wear them for the corrected visual acuity test.

• Myopia up to −2.5 D Sph — the spherical component of each eye's prescription must not exceed −2.5 D. This is the single most important number for Army wing eligibility.
• Astigmatism up to ±2.0 D Cyl — cylindrical (astigmatism) correction up to ±2.0 D is permitted within the overall spherical limit.
• Hypermetropia up to +2.5 D Sph — plus power glasses are also allowed up to +2.5 D.
• Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) must be 6/6 in each eye — with your best spectacle correction, you must be able to read the 6/6 Snellen line. If your corrected vision is 6/9 or less in either eye, you are unfit regardless of the power.
• Uncorrected vision: at least 6/36 in each eye — without glasses, you must be able to read the 6/36 line. This tests your functional vision in the field (e.g., if your glasses break or are lost).
• Spectacles may be worn during the medical examination — unlike Air Force, you are not required to demonstrate unaided perfect vision. Bring your spectacles to the SMB.

NDA Navy Wing — Spectacles Details

Navy wing standards are stricter than Army on both myopia limits and uncorrected vision. Spectacles are permitted during the corrected vision test, but the minimum uncorrected threshold is tighter.

• Myopia up to −1.0 D Sph — only mild myopia is accepted. Prescriptions of −1.25 D or higher fail the Navy standard, even if they pass the Army standard.
• Astigmatism up to ±1.0 D Cyl — half the Army's cylinder limit.
• Uncorrected vision: at least 6/12 in each eye — stricter than Army's 6/36. A candidate with −1.0 D myopia who has 6/18 uncorrected would fail the Navy standard. Check this before the SMB.
• Corrected vision: 6/6 each eye (same as Army).
• Colour vision CP-II — one grade higher than Army's CP-III requirement. Candidates with mild colour vision deficiency who pass CP-III may fail the Navy's CP-II standard.
• Binocular vision Grade III — formal assessment with synoptophore or equivalent; candidates must demonstrate adequate fusion and stereopsis.

NDA Air Force Flying — No Myopia at All

The Air Force Flying branch has the most demanding vision standards of any NDA wing, and the rule on myopia is absolute: NIL myopia. This applies to both manifest refraction (your subjective spectacle prescription) and cycloplegic/retinoscopic refraction (measured after pupillary dilation with eye drops).

Why is the Air Force standard so strict?

• Pilots must have excellent, reliable distance vision under all conditions — darkness, high altitude, glare, and fatigue.
• Glasses and contact lenses are not an option inside a cockpit or during ejection — the physical forces would make them dangerous.
• Even slight myopia that is subclinical today can progress to a higher degree under the physiological stress of flying duty.
• The Air Force is willing to accept candidates who have had LASIK surgery (with all conditions met) — but the candidate must achieve NIL residual refraction for Pilot/Observer roles.

Hypermetropia up to +1.5 D and astigmatism up to ±0.5 D are acceptable — pilots with mild far-sightedness perform adequately for distance tasks. But zero myopia tolerance is non-negotiable.

What Can a Myopic Person Do?

Having myopia does not automatically close all NDA doors. Here is what to consider based on your current power:

Uncorrected vs Corrected Vision — What Gets Tested

The Service Medical Board (SMB) tests your vision in two ways. Understanding the difference is important for knowing whether you pass both tests.

Uncorrected Visual Acuity (UCVA)

Uncorrected means your naked-eye vision — without glasses or contact lenses. The examiner will ask you to remove your spectacles and read the Snellen chart. The minimum uncorrected thresholds are:

• Army wing: 6/36 in each eye minimum (can see the second-largest line on the chart)
• Navy wing: 6/12 in each eye minimum (must see three lines below the Army minimum)
• Air Force Flying: 6/6 in each eye (must see the smallest standard line, naturally)

Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA)

Corrected means with your best spectacle correction. The examiner places trial lenses in a trial frame to find the best possible prescription, then asks you to read the chart. All three wings require 6/6 BCVA in each eye. If your corrected vision cannot reach 6/6 in either eye, you are unfit regardless of your spectacle power.

Contact Lenses — Not Accepted at the Medical Board

Contact lenses are not permitted during the NDA Service Medical Board examination. This is a firm rule with two implications:

1. You cannot wear contact lenses to the SMB — bring your spectacles. The uncorrected vision test is done without any correction, and the corrected test uses trial frame spectacle lenses, not your contact lenses.
2. Stop wearing contact lenses at least 2 weeks before the SMB — soft contact lenses can temporarily flatten or steepen the cornea, changing the refraction measurement. This effect persists for 1–3 days after removal for soft lenses, and longer for rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses. To ensure an accurate, repeatable refraction measurement, stop wearing soft lenses at least 14 days before examination, and RGP lenses at least 4 weeks before.

Frequently Asked Questions