RCMP Vision Requirements 2026: Glasses, LASIK, Colour Blindness
For the full eligibility overview, see our RCMP requirements hub.
Quick Answer: The RCMP requires corrected vision of 6/6 (20/20) in one eye and 6/9 (20/30) in the other. Your uncorrected vision must reach 6/18 (20/60) in each eye or 6/12 (20/40) in one eye and 6/30 (20/100) in the other. Glasses are acceptable. You can join with LASIK after waiting 30 days. Colour blindness may disqualify you depending on severity.
Booking your vision examination early removes one of the most common documentation delays in the RCMP application process. The form (RCMP 2180) must be completed by a registered Canadian ophthalmologist or optometrist and submitted with your document package. Exams are valid for two years. Candidates who complete the exam before the recruiter requests it avoid a common weeks-long wait. If you had LASIK, book no earlier than 30 days post-surgery (90 days for PRK). The exam is your expense and is not reimbursed.
What Are the RCMP Vision Requirements?
The RCMP maintains strict vision requirements to ensure officers can perform safely in unpredictable emergency situations. Vision standards cover three areas: visual acuity, colour perception, and field of view.
Your vision must meet both corrected and uncorrected standards. If you fail either standard, you do not meet the minimum requirement.
Corrected Vision Standards
Corrected vision (with glasses or contact lenses) must reach:
- 6/6 (20/20) in one eye, AND
- 6/9 (20/30) in the other eye
This level allows you to perform all police duties effectively while using your prescribed correction.
Uncorrected Vision Standards
Uncorrected vision (without glasses or contacts) must meet one of these:
- 6/18 (20/60) in each eye, OR
- 6/12 (20/40) in one eye and 6/30 (20/100) in the other eye
Why this matters: In emergency situations, your glasses may be lost or displaced. The RCMP vision requirements include uncorrected standards to ensure you can function safely even without correction.
Can You Join the RCMP with Glasses?
Yes. Glasses are fully acceptable for RCMP applicants. The vision requirements specifically allow corrected vision with spectacles.
However, research shows that glasses can be problematic in policing. A 1996 RCMP survey of 1,040 constables found that 59% had their glasses fall or get knocked off during duty. An additional 72% had to remove their glasses due to fogging, and 82% had to remove them due to rain, snow, or liquid obscuring their vision.
This research informed the uncorrected vision standard. The RCMP requires you to meet uncorrected vision minimums because field situations may force you to perform duties without correction.
The corrected and uncorrected standards are both requirements — not an either-or. Applicants who wear glasses or contacts still need their uncorrected vision to reach 6/18 in each eye or 6/12 in one eye and 6/30 in the other. The RCMP’s own survey found glasses are regularly knocked off, fogged over, or removed during duty. If your uncorrected vision does not meet the minimum, you do not meet the standard regardless of how well you see with correction. Get your full uncorrected acuity tested before assuming you qualify.
Can You Join the RCMP If You Are Colorblind?
Colour vision is mandatory for RCMP officers. Your colour vision will be tested using the standardized Ishihara pseudo-isochromatic plates.
To pass, you must correctly identify at least 17 of 21 colour patterns.
If you fail the initial test, you may take the Farnsworth D-15 test. Passing this supplementary test means you meet the minimum vision requirements for colour vision. If you fail both tests, you do not meet the standard.
Why colour vision matters: Police work requires distinguishing colours for identification, evidence documentation, and tactical decisions. Complete colour blindness will disqualify you, but certain forms of colour vision deficiency may be accommodated if you can pass the alternative test.
Can You Join the RCMP With LASIK Surgery?
Yes, LASIK is permitted for RCMP applicants. However, you must wait before your vision examination.
The required waiting periods after refractive surgery are:
- LASIK: 30 days
- PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy): 90 days
- ICL/PIOL with anterior chamber lens: 6 months
- ICL/PIOL with posterior chamber lens: 12 months
These waiting periods ensure your eyes have healed sufficiently and your vision has stabilized before testing. Schedule your vision examination after the waiting period ends.
Peripheral field of vision testing is not part of a standard optometrist appointment. The RCMP requires 150 degrees of continuous horizontal field of vision — a measurement most eye care providers can assess but must be specifically requested. When booking your vision examination for the RCMP form 2180, confirm with your optometrist or ophthalmologist that the appointment includes a visual field test. Arriving without that component means a second appointment and another delay in your application timeline.
Who Performs the RCMP Vision Examination?
A registered or certified ophthalmologist or optometrist must complete your vision examination. Both professionals are qualified to assess vision requirements.
The examination must be performed by a Canadian eye care professional. You will complete the official form (RM Applicant Vision Examination Report, RCMP 2180). The exam costs are your responsibility and will not be reimbursed by the RCMP.
The results remain valid for two years from the examination date.
Field of Vision and Other Standards
Beyond visual acuity and colour vision, the vision requirements include:
Field of Vision
Your field of vision must measure at least 150 degrees continuous along the horizontal meridian. Vertically, you need 20 degrees continuous above and below fixation point, with both eyes open and examined together.
Ocular Disease
You must be free from ocular diseases that impair visual performance. Any history of eye disease will be reviewed at the medical assessment stage. This includes conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, retinopathy, or corneal scarring that could affect your ability to perform police duties.
When Are Your Eyes Assessed in the Application?
You must have your vision examination completed before you reach the formal medical assessment stage. The general timeline is:
- After you pass the entrance assessment and competitive scoring
- Before or during the document submission phase
- Before the formal medical and psychological assessments
You will arrange and pay for the vision examination yourself. Once completed, you submit the form with your other required documents. Having your examination done early prevents delays later in the process.
Complete colour vision failure does disqualify you — but colour vision deficiency is assessed in two stages. If you fail the Ishihara test (need 17 of 21 correct), you take the Farnsworth D-15 supplementary test. Passing the D-15 means you meet the minimum standard and can proceed. Many applicants who fail the primary Ishihara plate test pass the D-15 and continue through the application. Self-diagnosing as “colour blind” from consumer apps or informal tests is not the same as failing the Farnsworth D-15 under assessment conditions. Have the formal exam before assuming you are disqualified.
Frequently Asked Questions
You must meet visual acuity standards in both eyes. Monocular vision (one eye) typically does not meet the vision requirements, though individual cases may be assessed.
Contact lenses count as corrected vision. Your corrected vision standard applies whether you wear glasses or contacts. However, the RCMP does not grant waivers to those who fail uncorrected standards based on contact lens use alone.
Astigmatism alone will not disqualify you if corrected vision meets the vision requirements. Your corrected vision must still reach 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in the other.
You need a current examination. The RCMP requires a new vision examination for application purposes. Eye exams for the RCMP are valid for two years, so schedule one within that window if possible.
Cataract surgery does not automatically disqualify you. You must demonstrate that your corrected and uncorrected vision meet the vision requirements. Your ophthalmologist or optometrist will assess whether you meet the standards post-surgery.
Conclusion
The vision requirements balance public safety with fairness to applicants. Corrected vision of 6/6 and 6/9, uncorrected vision of 6/18 or better, and normal colour vision are the core standards. Glasses and LASIK are acceptable. If you have questions about whether you meet the standards, consult a Canadian ophthalmologist or optometrist familiar with policing medical assessments before applying.
Ready to apply? Review the full RCMP application process to understand all requirements alongside vision standards.
- RCMP: Become a Police Officer with Federal Policing – Before You Apply
- RCMP: Submit Required Forms and Documents
- Wells, G.A., Brown, J., Casson, E.J., Easterbrook, M., & Trottier, A. (1997). “To Wear or Not To Wear: A Survey on Current Contact Lens Use in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.” Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology, 32(3), 199–206.
Sources:
Becoming a Mountie | Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Regular member hiring process | Royal Canadian Mounted Police
This article reflects current RCMP policy based on official government documentation. Eligibility and suitability decisions are assessed on a case-by-case basis during the application process.
