• Question: Do you need good eyesight to be an engineer?

    Asked by Emily G to Chris, Gina, Jack, Laura, Tom, Yetty on 16 Jun 2017.
    • Photo: Tom Rooney

      Tom Rooney answered on 16 Jun 2017:

      well it helps to see what you’re doing but you don’t need 20:20 vision. I know a guy who is partially sighted and is a brilliant software engineer. I also knew an electrical engineer who was colour blind! He used to have to label the cables as he replaced things so he knew which one went where, because they all looked similar colour to him. It was only problem if someone else had taken the unit out and he had to put the new one in!

    • Photo: Yetunde Kolawole

      Yetunde Kolawole answered on 16 Jun 2017:

      Hi Emily,

      You don’t need perfect vision for most branches of engineering. I am short sighted and wear glasses to work! Thank God for the invention of contact lenses, I can wear them when I’m out on the field and need protective glasses

    • Photo: Laura Walker

      Laura Walker answered on 19 Jun 2017:

      I think there are only certain jobs where you need perfect vision.

    • Photo: Gina Schade

      Gina Schade answered on 20 Jun 2017:

      Hi Emily,

      In my line of work, you do not need perfect vision.
      There may be certain jobs out there where good eyesight is essential, but for most it is not 🙂

Comments

  • Photo: samsteevs

    samsteevs commented on :

    I think you do

  • Photo: Tony

    Tony commented on :

    Engineers tend to spend a fair amount of time in front of computer screen. Poor eyesight wouldn’t be too much of a problem. However, there may be a requirement to look at small details, for example an engineering drawing or a delicat mechanical/electronic device, in that case, good eyesight would be desirable. There are of course lots of corrective measures, e.g. spectacles, microscopes, a magnifying glass that could overcome a problem.