If you’re interested in becoming a police officer, you’ll need to pass a comprehensive eye exam. This is standard practice for both the RCMP and most city police services, who require that all applicants submit vision reports before they can be considered for the force.

At Optiko, we can help get the job done. Our optometrists conduct eye exams for policing and can help you fill out and complete police vision report forms, as well as explain the minimum vision requirements to you. Optiko has two eye clinics located in Calgary, in Market Mall and Sunridge Mall, and we pride ourselves on providing eye care for people in the community.

Before scheduling a visit, you might like to review the minimum vision requirements for the RCMP and Calgary Police Service below. We have also included helpful links to the places where you can get official forms and other relevant information. Keep in mind that there are small variations in the vision requirements between different policing institutions and that you will need to fill out a separate form for each application.

Minimum Vision Requirements

RCMP Vision Examination

Visual Acuity

Corrected vision (with glasses or contact lenses): must be at least 6/6 (20/20) in one eye and 6/9 (20/30) in the other

Uncorrected vision (without glasses or contacts lenses): must be at least 6/18 (20/60) in each eye OR 6/12 (20/40) in one eye and at least 6/30 (20/100) in the other eye

These requirements are in place so that in the case one’s glasses or contacts become lost or damaged, police duties can still be performed safely.

Field of Vision

With both eyes open and examined together, one’s field of vision must be at least 150 degrees continuous along the horizontal meridian and 20 degrees continuous above and below fixation.

Colour vision testing

Must be conducted without any colour-correcting aids and using the standardized Ishihara pseudo-isochromatic plates. In order for an applicant’s colour vision to be considered normal, they must correctly identify at least 17 of 21 patterns.

If an applicant fails the plate test, they may complete the Farnsworth D-15 test. If an applicant passes the test, they will be considered to meet the minimum colour-vision standards.

If an applicant fails both the above tests, the minimum colour-vision standards are not met.

Ocular disease

Applicants must be free of eye diseases that would impair vision. If you have a history or presence of ocular disease, you may be required to provide additional information at the medical examination stage in order to receive an individual assessment.

Surgical vision correction

If you have had vision correction surgery, you must wait the following amount of time before having a vision examination completed:

Laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery: 30 days

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) surgery: 90 days

Implanted corrective lenses (ICL, PIOL) surgery with anterior chamber lens: 6 months

Implanted corrective lenses (ICL, PIOL) surgery with posterior chamber lens: 12 months

Additional Info

For additional information, potential RCMP applicants can visit the RCMP website which has helpful resources on how to apply, the RCMP vision standards, and the official RCMP Vision Examination Form.

Calgary Police Service Vision Report

Minimum Vision Acuity

Corrected vision (with glasses or contact lenses): must be at least 6/6 (20/20) with both eyes open

Uncorrected vision (without glasses or contacts lenses): must be at least 6/12 (20/40) with both eyes open

Farsightedness/hyperopia

The amount of hyperopia must not be greater than +2.00 D, spheroequivalent in the least hyperopic eye

Alignment of eyes

Far: No more than 5 eso or 5 exo

Near: No more than 6 eso or 10 exo

If an applicant is in excess of these measurements, additional documentation from an eye care professional stating that the person is unlikely to experience double vision when fatigued or functioning in reduced visual environments is required.

Colour Vision Testing

Must be conducted without any colour-correcting aids and using the standardized Ishihara pseudo-isochromatic plates.

If an applicant fails the plate test, they can try to pass the Farnsworth D-15 test. If they pass, they will be considered to have met the minimum standards for colour vision.

Peripheral vision

An applicant’s peripheral vision should be a 5mm white target at a distance of 33 cm (or a target with a similar angular size with respect to the candidate’s viewing distance). Peripheral vision should be within these limits for the various meridians:

Temporal (0º meridian): 75º

Superior-temporal(45º meridian): 40º

Superior (90º meridian): 35º

Superior-nasal (135º meridian): 35º

Nasal (180º meridian): 45º

Nasal-inferior (225º meridian): 35º

Inferior (270º meridian): 55º

Inferior-temporal (315º meridian): 70º

Additionally, other than physiological blind spots, no other blind spots should be present.

History of Eye Surgeries

If an applicant has a history of eye surgery, they may be asked to complete additional vision stability and night vision testing or be considered ineligible for the role.

Corneal Refractive Surgery (LASIK): permitted, however, the applicant must do additional testing and complete a supplemental vision report form with an eye doctor.

Pseudophakic Intra-Ocular Lenses: permitted, however, the applicant must do additional testing and complete a supplemental vision report form with an eye doctor.

Phakic Intraocular Lens Implants (PIOL): certain designs are permitted, however, the applicant must do additional testing and complete a supplemental vision report form with an eye doctor.

Orthokeratology, Corneal Transplants, Intra-Stromal Corneal Rings: not permitted

Ocular disease

To be eligible, an applicant must not have any ocular diseases that impair visual performance concerning the above standards, or that can produce sudden, unpredictable incapacitation of vision.

Additional Info

For additional information, potential Calgary Police Service applicants can visit the RCMP website which has a helpful self-assessment guide, the official vision report form, and the supplemental vision report form (in the case of prior eye surgery).