Guidelines for Conducting Pre-sea and Periodic Medical Fitness Examinations for Seafarers

	INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION
	Sectoral Activities Programme

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ILO/WHO/D.2/1997

Guidelines for Conducting Pre-sea and Periodic Medical Fitness Examinations for Seafarers

Part 4 Annex A

Minimum in-service eyesight standards (partly taken from section B of the STCW Code, Guidance regarding medical standards -- Issues and registration of certificates, paragraphs 7-11 and table B-I/9)

In the absence of mandatory international eyesight standards for seafarers, the following standards and table 1 should be considered the minimum for the safe operation of ships.

Each competent authority has the discretionary authority to grant a variance or waiver of any of the standards set out in table 1, based on an assessment of a medical evaluation and any other relevant information concerning an individual's adjustment to the condition and proven ability to satisfactorily perform assigned shipboard functions. However, if the aided distant visual acuity of either eye is less than the standard, the aided distant visual acuity in the better eye should be at least 0.2 higher than the standard indicated in the table. The unaided distant visual acuity in the better eye should be at least 0.1.

Persons required to use spectacles or contact lenses to perform duties should have a spare pair conveniently available on board the ship. Any need to wear visual aids to meet the required standards should be recorded on each certificate and endorsement issued.

Eyes of seafarers should be free of disease. Any permanent or progressing debilitating pathology without recovery should be cause for determination of unfitness.

All tests needed to determine the visual fitness of a seafarer must be reliable and performed by a competent person recognized by the relevant national authority.

Notwithstanding these provisions, the competent authority may require higher standards than those given in the table.

Table B-I/9. Minimum in-service eyesight standards


STCW Convention regulation	Category of seafarer	Distance vision*		Near/immediate vision and colour vision	Visual fields	Night blindness	Diplopia (double vision)
STCW Convention regulation	Category of seafarer	One eye	Other eye	Both eyes together, aided or unaided	Visual fields	Night blindness	Diplopia (double vision)

I/11 II/1 II/2 II/3 II/4	Masters, deck officers and ratings required to undertake lookout duties Aided: Unaided:	0.5** 0.1	0.5 0.1	Vision required for ships' navigation (e.g. chart and nautical publication reference, use of bridge instrumentation and equipment, and identification of aids to navigation)	Normal visual fields	Vision required to perform all necessary functions in darkness without compromise	No significant condition evident
I/11 III/1 III/2 III/3 III/4	All engineer officers and ratings forming part of an engine- room watch Aided: Unaided:	0.4 0.1	0.4 0.1	Vision required to read instruments in close proximity, to operate equipment, and to identify systems/components as necessary	Sufficient visual fields	Vision required to perform all necessary functions in darkness without compromise	No significant condition evident
I/11 IV/2	Radio officers and electrical/ electronic officers Aided: Unaided:	0.4 0.1	0.4 0.1	Vision required to read instruments in close proximity, to operate equipment, and to identify systems/components as necessary	Sufficient visual fields	Vision required to perform all necessary functions in darkness without compromise	No significant condition evident
* Valuables given in Snellen decimal notation. ** A value of at least 0.7 in one eye is recommended to reduce the risk of undetected underlying eye disease.

Additional minimum in-service eyesight standards

The minimum in-service eyesight standards for other seafarers than mentioned in the STCW Code should be 0.1 unaided in each eye.


Category of seafarer	Distance vision		Near/immediate vision and colour vision	Visual fields	Night blindness	Diplopia (double vision)
Category of seafarer	One eye	Other eye	Both eyes together, aided or unaided	Visual fields	Night blindness	Diplopia (double vision)

Others			Sufficient for duties	Sufficient for duties	--	--
Aided:	0.1
Unaided:	0.1

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This page was created by BR/PL. It was approved by BW/BKN. It was last updated Thur, 17 Jun 1999.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION

Sectoral Activities Programme

Guidelines for Conducting Pre-sea and Periodic Medical Fitness Examinations for Seafarers

Part 4

Annex A

Minimum in-service eyesight standards (partly taken from section B of the STCW Code, Guidance regarding medical standards -- Issues and registration of certificates, paragraphs 7-11 and table B-I/9)