Federal Aviation Administration

Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners
Application Process for Medical Certification

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  • |  Updated: 7:34 am ET October 22, 2009

Examination Techniques
Item 52. Color Vision

Equipment Test Edition Plates
Pseudoisochromatic plates Test book should be held 30" from applicant

Plates should be illuminated by at least 20’ candles, preferably by a Macbeth Easel Lamp or a Verilux True Color Light (F15T8VLX)

Only three seconds are allowed for the applicant to interpret and respond to a given plate
American Optical Company [AOC] 1965 1-15
AOC-HRR 2nd 1-11
Richmond-HRR 4th 5-24
Dvorine 2nd 1-15
Ishihara 14 Plate 1-11
24 Plate 1-15
38 Plate 1-21
Richmond,
15-plates		 1983 1-15
*Note to Agency-Designated ATCS AMEs Not all tests approved for pilots are acceptable for FAA ATCSs. Contact RFS for current list.
Acceptable Substitutes: (May be used following the directions accompanying the instruments)
  • Farnsworth Lantern;
  • OPTEC 900 Color Vision Test;
  • Keystone Orthoscope;
  • Keystone Telebinocular;
  • LKC Technologies, Inc., APT-5 Color Vision Tester;
  • OPTEC 2000 Vision Tester (Model Nos. 2000 PM, 2000 PAME, and 2000 PI);
  • OPTEC 2500;
  • Titmus Vision Tester;
  • Titmus II Vision Tester (Model Nos. TII and TIIS);
  • Titmus 2 Vision Tester (Model Nos. T2A and T2S);
  • Titmus i400
Any tests not specifically listed above are unacceptable methods of testing for FAA medical certificate. Examples of unacceptable tests include, but are not limited to, the OPTEC 5000 Vision Tester (color vision portion), "Farnsworth Lantern Flashlight," "yarn tests," and AME-administered aviation Signal Light Gun test (AME office use is prohibited).