Vision Requirements

Vision requirements vary depending upon the corrective measures utilized.

In all cases, you need to have binocular vision (vision in both eyes), normal visual fields, normal binocular fusion, and freedom from other visual conditions that would interfere with your ability to perform the full range of duties of a Police Officer with the San Diego Police Department.

In all cases, you need an acceptable level of color vision. This is determined at the time of the medical examination given by the City using standardized color vision tests.

Eyeglasses or Hard* (non-orthokeratology) Contact Lenses

If you wear eyeglasses or hard* (non-orthokeratology) contact lenses, your uncorrected vision may be no worse than 20/70 both eyes together. Uncorrected vision worse than 20/20 but not worse than 20/70 must be corrected to 20/20 both eyes together.

* "Hard" contact lenses also include semi-soft, semi-rigid, semi-permeable, gas permeable, and similar lenses.

Soft Contact Lenses

If you wear soft contact lenses and your vision is corrected to 20/20 both eyes together, there is no minimum uncorrected visual acuity requirement. To qualify under this provision, the following is required:

1. You will be asked to present satisfactory medical evidence from your private optometrist or ophthalmologist documenting that you have been a successful wearer of soft contact lenses for six months prior to the medical examination given by the City of San Diego. Such documentation must also indicate if you have any medical contraindications to wearing soft contact lenses. We will request this information from you following the medical examination given by the City.
2. You will be required, as a condition of your employment, to sign a pre-employment agreement obligating you to wear soft contact lenses at all times while on duty, except when authorized by the San Diego Police Department. Your use of soft contact lenses will be subject to verification by the City of San Diego and to such medical eye examinations as necessary in the judgment of the City.

Orthokeratology

If you have undergone orthokeratology and wear orthokeratology lenses and your vision is corrected to 20/20 both eyes together, there is no minimum uncorrected visual acuity requirement. To qualify under this provision, the following is required:

1. You will be asked to present satisfactory medical evidence from your private optometrist or ophthalmologist documenting that you have been a successful wearer of orthokeratology lenses for one year prior to the medical examination given by the City of San Diego. Such documentation must also indicate if you have any medical contraindications to wearing orthokeratology lenses. We will request this information from you following the medical examination given by the City.
2. You will be required, as a condition of your employment, to sign a pre-employment agreement obligating you to wear orthokeratology lenses at all times while on duty, except when authorized by the San Diego Police Department. Your use of orthokeratology lenses will be subject to verification by the City of San Diego and to such medical eye examinations as necessary in the judgment of the City.

Candidates who wear orthokeratology lenses are encouraged to change to soft contact lenses.

Radial Keratotomy or Similar Procedure

If you have undergone radial keratotomy or a similar procedure you must wait one year following your last surgery or "touch up" surgery or procedure before you would be medically considered for a Police Recruit or Police Officer position. Your vision must be 20/20 both eyes together. If it is not, it must be corrected to 20/20 both eyes together in accordance with the requirements above.

You must be free of significant vision problems such as impaired vision at night or under dim lighting conditions, sensitivity to glare, starbursts experience around light sources such as street lights or headlights, progressive regression of visual acuity, daily changes in visual acuity, or other conditions.

You will be asked to submit the results of a recent eyes examination from your private ophthalmologist documenting the status of your vision. We will request this information from you following the medical examination given by the City.