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Justice Department
Police Division Identity No: Police Circular No: 8/2003 Title: Revised Eyesight Standards for Entry to the Police Service Addressed to: Chief Constables
Chief Executives,
Dumfries & Galloway Council
And Fife Council
Clerks to the Joint Police Boards | St. Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh EH1 3DG Telephone: 0131 244 2160
Fax: 0131-244 2666 Martin.McDermott@Scotland.gsi.gov.uk Our ref: DCC 3/5 |
Date Issued: 2 October 2003 Topic: Terms & Conditions, Recruitment
Implementation: Immediate
Impact: Replaces the Eyesight Standards set out in Police Circular No. 12/1999.
Contact for more information: Martin McDermott
(Tel: 0131 244 2160)
(at the above address)
Dear Colleague
Purpose of the circular: To advise forces of the revised Eyesight Standards and Guidelines which the Police Advisory Board for Scotland agreed should be applied to those seeking appointment to the Scottish police service. These should be implemented immediately
Summary of contents: Details of the revised standards which are to be mandatory and included in Police Regulations are attached. The standards for both aided and unaided vision as well as colour vision defects are being lowered. Greater clarity for those who have undergone laser surgery is now being provided.
One of the main areas of concern raised by the medical advisors related to the interpretation of the new standards. MASPS (Medical Advisors to the Scottish Police Service) have therefore produced a set of guidance which is also attached.
The implementation of the revised eye sight standards does not require any amendment to the current method of testing.
George Vine
Police Division
Annex A
POLICE RECRUITMENT
MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS EYESIGHT STANDARDS
The standard of eyesight which must be met by a candidate for appointment to a police force in respect of each of the matters specified in the first column of the following table is that specified in the second column of the table.
Eyesight | Mandatory requirement |
Static Visual Acuity1 | Corrected distance visual acuity must be 6/12 in either eye and 6/6 or better, binocularly. Corrected near static visual acuity must be 6/9 or better, binocularly. [Applicants who do not reach the standard should not be rejected but should be invited for a further test after obtaining a stronger prescription]. Uncorrected visual acuity must be 6/36 or better, binocularly. Corrected low contrast distance visual acuity must be 6/12 or better for a 10% contrast target, binocularly. |
Visual Field2 | A field-of-view of at least 120 degrees horizontally by 100 degrees vertically is required. The field-of-view should be free of any large defective areas, particularly in the fovea. Single defects smaller than the physiological blind spot, and multiple defects that add to an area smaller than the physiological blind spot, should be acceptable. |
Colour Vision3 | Monochromats should be rejected. Mild anomalous trichromats are acceptable and should be treated as normals. Severe anomalous trichromats and dichromats are also acceptable and should be instructed in coping strategies. [Applicants who show a lowered discrimination for blue colours should be referred to an ophthalmologist for further assessment. This should include a measure of their dark adaptation performance]. |
Spectacles and contact lenses | Correction should be worn where necessary to achieve 6/6 binocularly. Corrective spectacles and contact lenses are acceptable for the tasks of an Operational Police Constable. |
Eye Surgery | PRK, LASIK, LASEK, ICRS, cataract surgery: There is no significant weakening of the cornea and applicants should not be rejected. A period of at least 6 weeks after surgery should be allowed before applications are accepted. There may be a reduction in low light level visual performance: Test visual performance under low illuminance conditions. Radial Keratotomy (RK), Arcuate Keratotomy (AK), corneal grafts. Any other surgical procedures that result in a significant weakening of the cornea. There is a measurable risk of corneal rupture if the eye is struck. Applicants should be rejected. |
[1] Acuity should be measured using a Snellen eye chart, or equivalent.
2 The field of view may be tested using a confrontation test. However, it is recommended that forces use more sophisticated testing equipment, where possible. If the results of the confrontation test suggest that there is a reduced visual field, or if the results of the medical questionnaire suggest an increased risk of reduced visual field, applicants should be referred to an ophthalmologist for a thorough examination of their visual field.
3 Colour vision should be tested using the appropriate test. Applicants should not wear 'colour correcting' lenses during the colour vision tests.
Annex B
MASPS GUIDANCE ON EYESIGHT STANDARDS - POLICE RECRUITMENT
The standard of eyesight which must be met by a candidate for appointment to a police force is as follows:
EYESIGHT STANDARD | MANDATORY REQUIREMENT |
Static Visual Acuity Acuity should be measured using a Snellen Eye Chart or equivalent. |
Uncorrected Visual Acuity | Must be 6/36 or better binocularly |
Corrected Distance Visual Acuity | Must be 6/6 or better binocularly and 6/12 in either eye |
Corrected Near Visual Acuity | Must be 6/9 or better binocularly |
Visual Field Testing field of view by confrontation is acceptable |
| A field of view of at least 120 degrees horizontally by 100 degrees vertically is required. The field of view should be free of any large defective areas, particularly in the fovea. |
Colour Vision Colour vision can be tested by any colour vision test. Applicants should not wear colour correcting lenses during the colour vision tests. |
| Mild anomalous trichromats should be treated as normals. Severe anomalous trichromats and dichromats are acceptable but need to be aware of their colour vision deficiency and its impact on certain policing activities. Applicants who show a lowered discrimination for blue colours should be referred to an ophthalmologist for further assessment. This should include a measure of their dark adaptation performance. Monochromats should be rejected. |
Eye Surgery | Applicants should be rejected if they have had Radial Keratotomy (RK), Arcuate Keratotomy (AK), corneal grafts or any other procedure that results in a significant weakening of the cornea as there is a measurable risk of corneal rupture if the eye is struck. There is no significant weakening of the cornea with PRK, LASIK, LASEK, ICRS, cataract surgery and applicants should not be rejected. Applications may be accepted 6 weeks after surgery, however, entry into the police force will not be confirmed until at least 6 months after the surgery. |
Please refer to accompanying document for further information
EYESIGHT STANDARDS - GUIDANCE ON TESTING PROCEDURES EYESIGHT STANDARDS - GUIDANCE ON TESTING PROCEDURES
This document summarises the recommended procedures for conducting the eyesight tests.
Visual Acuity
This must be tested with and without the usual refractive correction (spectacles or contact lenses) of the applicant.
It is recommended that visual acuity be assessed using a Snellen chart or equivalent. The chart should be designed for use at a distance of 6m. The chart should be viewed under bright lighting conditions such that the chart luminance is between 250 and 300 cdm-2. The following test procedure should be used:
· The applicant should stand 6 metres away from the test chart. The eyes of the applicant should be approximately level with the chart. The applicant should not wear any optical correction at first.
· If monocular visual acuity is to be measured, the applicant should occlude one of their eyes. The weaker eye should be tested first.
· The examiner should point to each line of the chart in turn, starting with the largest type size, and ask the applicant to read out each character on the line.
· The applicant should be pushed to determine their acuity. If the applicant is hesitant, they should be encouraged to guess the letters on the line.
· The examiner should continuously monitor the applicant to ensure that they do not screw up their eyes. If monocular acuity is being tested, they should also be monitored to ensure that they are not looking around their occluder.
· The visual acuity of the applicant is the smallest line on the test chart for which they can read the majority of letters successfully.
· The visual acuity should be recorded as 6/n-m, where n is the smallest line where the majority of letters were read, and m is the number of letters that were incorrectly read. If all letters on the line are read then 6/n only should be used.
· The test should be repeated with the applicant wearing their normal optical correction if used. For this measure, the applicant should use both eyes to read the chart. Applicants who wear contact lenses may require several minutes for their correction to stabilise.
Common mistakes include:
· Permitting the applicant to screw up their eyes.
· Allowing the applicant to look around their occluder, for monocular acuity measurements.
· Not pushing enough with cautious applicants.
· Using too low an illumination.
· Using the wrong distance to chart.
· Not recording the result immediately, and guessing the result at the end of the examination.
Near visual acuity can be tested using a reduced Snellen eye chart. The test should be designed for use at a distance of 40 cm and only binocular near visual acuity should be tested.
Visual Field
It is recommended that a confrontation test be used for a screen of gross visual field defects. The following procedure should be used.
· The applicant should stand about 0.6 metres away from the examiner. The eyes of the examiner and applicant should be approximately level.
· The applicant should fixate on the examiner's nose, with both eyes open.
· The examiner should extend their arms forward and outwards, positioning their hands halfway to the applicant, and such that the hands are approximately 60 degrees away from the applicant horizontally. The hands should be elevated approximately 20 degrees vertically above the eye level of the applicant.
· On one hand, the examiner should present either one or two fingers, a whole hand, or a fist, so that the applicant has a choice of one, two, all or none. The applicant should respond with the number of fingers presented.
· This should be repeated for the other hand.
· The arms should then be lowered until they are approximately 20 degrees below the eye level of the applicant, and the test repeated.
If the applicant fails to answer correctly, they should be referred to an ophthalmologist for a complete analysis of their visual field. They should also be referred to an ophthalmologist if the questionnaire responses suggest that there may be a visual field defect, or if the examiner is not satisfied that the applicant has a sufficient visual field.
Single defects smaller than the physiological blind spot and multiple defects that add to an area smaller than the physiological blind spot should be acceptable.
Common mistakes include:
· Having a cluttered visual field behind the examiner. A blank wall is appropriate.
· Where there is a significant height difference between the applicant and examiner.
· Allowing the applicant to lose fixation on the examiner.
The ophthalmologist should use a Goldmann type perimeter, or equivalent, for the assessment of peripheral vision. A visual field check using a Friedmann type analyser may be used to check central vision. This latter test is recommended for applicants who have a risk of glaucoma, such as diabetics.
Colour Perception
Full colour vision is not a requirement of the role of an Operational Police Constable.
The slight colour perception loss that is associated with common inherited 'colour blindness' may hinder the interpretation of some colour coded information. It will, therefore, be necessary to test at some point for colour vision loss, and constables without normal colour vision should be instructed to defer interpretation of colour coded information to a colleague with normal colour performance.
The colour test should be viewed by daylight, or by artificial illumination of around 500 lux.
· The test should be performed binocularly.
· Applicants should wear their normal refractive correction. They should not wear tinted spectacles/contact lenses.
· Applicants should be made aware that contact lenses that are supposed to enhance colour perception in individuals with common inherited 'colour blindness' should not be worn during the colour vision testing.
Coping strategies and exclusions should be tailored to the colour defect of each applicant.
· Medical Questionnaire - Vision Questions
The following set of vision related health questions are proposed for inclusion into the general medical questionnaire.
Q.1
Do you wear visual aids? (Applicants must have a visual acuity when wearing corrective spectacles or contact lenses of 6/6 with both eyes open. The unaided vision when not wearing correction must be equal to or better than 6/36). |
| Yes / No |
Q.2
Are you colour blind to any degree? (Applicants with most forms of defective colour vision are acceptable for service in the Police Force, but there may be some limitations in the duties that can be undertaken. Further information is available from your recruitment constable.) |
| Yes / No |
Q.3
Have you undergone any operation to your eyes in your lifetime? (This must include laser eye surgery). |
| Yes / No |
Q.4
Do you suffer from any gross vision defect, such as blind spots, blindness in one eye or a substantially reduced vision field? |
| Yes / No |
Q.5
Do you suffer from any of the following? Blurred vision Yes / No Detached retina Yes / No Night blindness Yes / No (If you have answered yes to any part, please provide details and attach any available medical reports). |
Q.6
Is there a history of any medical condition that could affect eyesight in your family? (If you have answered yes, please provide details.) |
| Yes / No |