Indian Railway Recruitment – LASIK Surgery Criteria

Indian Railways is one of the largest recruiters in the India and the world, and it works under the supervision of Ministry of Railways. The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) conducts written examinations for selecting staff in both gazetted and non-gazetted categories. The selection criteria are strictly applied and all the job seekers have to undergo medical examination at the Railway Hospitals during the later stages of recruitment. The medical examinations are conducted to assess the physical health, detection of any congenital or chronic diseases, physical handicaps, and strength of eye sight or visual acuity.

For visual acuity, the gazetted services are divided into two categories namely Technical and Non-technical Services. Technical services include Engineering branches, Traffic, Marine, Medical, and Special Class Apprentices. Non-technical Services include Accounts, Stores, Protection, Secretariats, Chemists, Metallurgists, and Class I and Class II Services not related to trolleys or train operations. Candidates for all the above mentioned posts have to undergo a comprehensive medical examination of both eyes for final selection.

Gazetted Services

1. Types of Test

The various tests such as Acuity of Vision, Fundus Examination, Color Vision, Field of Vision, and Night Vision exam are conducted as per rules.

2. Visual Acuity Requirements (With or Without Glasses)-

Technical Services

Distant Vision:  6/9 in better and worse eyes or 6/6 better eye, 6/12 worse eye

Near Vision: J.I and J.II in better and worse eyes respectively

Non-Technical Services

Distant Vision:  6/9 in better eye, 6/12 worse eye

Near Vision: J.I and J.II in better and worse eyes respectively

3. Disqualifications

• Contact lenses are not allowed during medical examination.
• Ocular conditions such as squint, one eyed person, chronic disease, progressive refractive error, LASIK surgery.

4. Relaxation Rules

• Special relaxations for specific candidates at the discretion of RRB.
• Technical Services –
• Total Myopia <= -4 Diopters
• Total Hypermetropia <= +4 Diopters

Non-Gazetted Services

The non-gazetted services are divided into 3 groups A, B, and C for the purpose of general physical examination and visual acuity tests. Category A includes drivers, foot plate staff, navigating, running, shunting, and signal controlling staff. Category B has station, yard, shed, workshop, and engine room staff. Category C includes clerical, administrative and other staff in shed stocks, workshop, and engine room. Different rules and standards are applied for different categories, and each group is divided further into sub groups such as A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, C1, and C2. Recruited candidates also undergo visual tests during service in a periodic manner for passenger, staff, and civilian safety.

Vision Standards For Each Sub-Group   

A-1         Distance Vision: 6/6, 6/6 without glasses.

Near Vision: Sn: 0.6, 0.6 without glasses (must clear fogging test) and

Must pass test for Colour Vision, Binocular Vision, Field of Vision & Night Vision.

A-2         Distance vision: 6/9, 6/9 without glasses.

Near Vision: Sn: 0.6, 0.6 without glasses and

Must pass test for Colour Vision, Binocular Vision, Field of Vision & Night Vision.

A-3         Distance Vision: 6/9, 6/9 with/without glasses (power of lenses not to exceed 2D).

Near Vision: Sn: 0.6, 0.6 with or without glasses and

Must pass test for Colour Vision, Binocular Vision, Field of Vision & Night Vision.

B-1         Distance Vision: 6/9, 6/12 with/without glasses (power of lenses not to exceed 4D).

Near Vision: Sn: 0.6, 0.6 with or without glasses when reading or doing close work

Must pass test for Colour Vision, Binocular Vision, Field of Vision & Night Vision

B-2         Distance Vision: 6/9, 6/12 with or without glasses (power not to exceed 4D).

Near Vision: Sn: 0.6, 0.6 with or without glasses when reading or doing close work

Must pass test for Field of Vision.

C-1         Distance Vision: 6/12, 6/18 with or without glasses.

Near Vision: Sn: 0.6, 0.6 with or without glasses when reading/close work

C-2         Distance Vision: 6/12, Nil with or without glasses.

Near Vision, Sn: 0.6 combined with/without glasses when reading/close work

LASIK Surgery Disqualification Rules

As per the Railway Health Board’s new policy, All new recruits as well as existing employees who had Lasik Laser eye surgery for correcting refractive error are unfit and disqualified in A and B categories.