Medical & HealthNews and debate about medical and health issues as they relate to aircrews and aviation. Any information gleaned from this forum MUST be backed up by consulting your state-registered health professional or AME.
My son wishes to persue a career in commercial aviation.
Searched the CAA website and on the subject of distance vison they say....
"Your visual acuity (measured by your ability to see, in this case, lines of letters on a chart at 6 metres) must be at least 6/9 in each eye separately and 6/6 using both eyes together, with or without glasses or contact lenses (correction). If you need correction the refractive error (the amount of correction) must not exceed +5.00 dioptres of long sight or -6.00 dioptres of short sight. This is in the most ametropic meridian (taking into account any astigmatism). Astigmatism must not exceed 2.00 dioptres. The difference in correction between each eye (anisometropia) must not be more than 2.00 dioptres. Your optometrist will be able to explain these terms."
Hello everybody, this is my first post.
First of all I’d like to say thanks to all of you who’ve written your experiences in this forum. It was very useful. I’ve read through most of them, in particular the CAA Class 1 medical certificate (eyes test)
Let’s go straight to the point. I had the intention to be trained in the UK for my ATPL (Frozen) Integrated Course. However, after checking the CAA requirements I don’t think it will be possible for me unfortunately.
This could be my obstacle to sort out, please tell me I’m wrong
Right eye Left eye
Sphere +2.25 Plano
Cly -3.00 -0.75
Axis 87 90
Unaided R 6/60 L 6/5
Aided R 6/5 L6/5
Ishihara PASS
Visual Fields FULL
At the moment I’m searching for information about l@ser refractive surgery, for any reference or any comments about Professor Dan Reinstein at LONDO VISION CLINIC, LASIK £5260
Should I contact the CAA medical department? If I do, will they keep any negative records for being outside their requirements? I’ve heard or read somewhere they don’t recommend l@ser, any ideas why?
Thanks God I still have the FAA Class 1 option and here is my question to you guys:
- If I’ve got a FAA Class 1, would I be able to renew it in one year without starting the pilot training? Under these circumstances, would it be taken as a renewal or initial again?
Would it be possible to change my FAA initial for a CAA certification with its renewal limits applied without starting my pilot training?
As you can see I really want to be trained in a UK centre, (CABAIR;OAT;CTC & FTE) because I think that they provide the best option for future employers.
Thank to all of you and I do hope this helps, and not just me
Pampas: go to Gatwick and get them to do an "eyes first" medical - that way if you can't get past Adrian you won't be put through (and charged for) the rest.
I'm no expert but I think your prescription might be classed as monovision which if true would rule you out as far as a JAA class 1 is concerned. You MUST get yourself checked out by Gatwick BEFORE you have LASIK.
That said, I was borderline but was passed last year: my left eye including astigmatism was -5.5 and my right eye was -6.25 BUT my corrected vision was way better than the required standard - I was 9/6 in each eye individually, so basically I got a pass because you could have depowered my right lens and I could still beat 6/6 ... its a rubbish standard.
As for LASIK, I had it done in December 2008 at the University of Miami's Bascom Palmer eye institute which is the #1 eye hospital in America. It cost $5000 and now I'm stable 20/15 in each eye and no halos, although the pupil dilating drops they gave me a week before the op gave me terrible starbursts that took at least a month to wear off. I did visit Dr. Giledi at the Centre For Sight at East Grinstead but I literally ran out of time to get the op done before I left the UK. I was told by my optician in Horsham not to get it done anywhere else in the UK.
If you have the option of working in the USA, the current FAA rules no longer have any restriction on pre-operative refraction. I am told this is because you are highly unlikely to meet the standard post-op if your eyesight is really terrible. In the US, if you had LASIK and are halo free and stable 6/6 or better afterwards you are in.
To make sure I can get a CAA class 1 at a future date (i.e. if there is any point in doing so ... seems unlikely TBH) I went back to Gatwick in April this year to see Adrian again and he passed me post-op - like I said, 6/6 isn't much of a standard to beat.
Hi!
Does anyone know the limits for an initial in Belgium (class 1)?
Read all the 40 pages but couldn't find anything.
I know that it's -6D in the UK and I'm just within the limits,just wondering if it's the same in Belgium...
Tried to call their center today but couldn't get any answer.
RMC your son will be fine, and should pass the vision test no problems.
There is a form you can print from the website that you can take to the opticians, get the optician to go through it and you'll get your answer as passing the eye test is more than just meeting perscription requirements.
If he want to be a pilot, then as long as he is old enough, go get the medical now. I, and i know of a few others who wish they would have got the C1 medical sooner rather than later, can make life so much easier.
I did my class one medical i was asked to read the 4th line which was fine and 5th line which i did but with some strain. However i couldn't read the bottom line. Could anyone guess, to tell me what my eye-sight is?
Appreciate any experiences / advice on this.
I was recently diagnosed with acute glaucoma (sometimes called closed angle or narrow angle Glaucoma). Apparently its a sudden condition (symptoms are blurred vision + headaches) which needs immediate treatment. I was seen by the local hospital (specialist eye clinic with a good reputation) and was operated on within 72 hours (YAG l@ser). The CAA has temporarily suspended my Class2 until the results of my peripheral eye test and follow-up meeting with the consultant next month.
Anyone else had this or know what the chances are on getting my class2 back?
Appreciate any experiences / advice.
Thanks.
"I did my class one medical i was asked to read the 4th line which was fine and 5th line which i did but with some strain. However i couldn't read the bottom line. Could anyone guess, to tell me what my eye-sight is?"
Depends on the chart but I think the 5th line would normally be 20/15 or 6/4.5 which is fine for JAR or FAA class 1. The doc at Bascom Palmer tells me the military pilots she has seen are all 20/10 (6/3) - they can read the bottom line with no problems. Even after $5k of surgery I cant read that line at all.
CAA class 1 medical (specifically Visual Field test)
Hi,
Ive always wanted to be a pilot since i can remember. Ive been working hard and saving money for the last few years but ive got a serious problem which may put a serious dent in my plans.
Ive worn glasses since i was about 14 years old. The actual vision is only -1.5 in both eyes, so nothing major. Ive know to myself that i was weak in left eye but i assumed that its because im right handed/right footed etc.
so about six months ago, i was about to put my modular plans into action and i went to my Optician for a quick check up. They put me in one of those Visual Field tests and my left eye has about 60% view.
So i got referred to a opthalmist who checked my eyes inside and out and found no physical problem with them. I got transferred to a neurosurgeon who put me through an MRI and it was found that my nerve in the left eye was not developed as it should have been but ive led normal life (driving, sports etc) because my brain is used to only what i see because i was born with the crappy nerve.
I need to ask, in the CAA class 1 medica. what kind of visual test do they do? and more importantly, when it comes to possible airline medicals for jobs, how in depth do they check Visual field?
the eye test is the main part of the medical renewal when ive done them. you have to get one every year/6 months depending how old you are. other checks like hearing and you heart are done every 5 years i think.
best thing you can do is go and do your class one medical and see what happens. its best to do it before spending any money on flight training as if there is a problem, atleast you have not blown any money away on flying already.
try going through the medical forum as well. im sure there must be a few posts around somewhere in there for you.
Hi guys, ive always wanted to be a pilot but im born with a nerve that is underdeveloped. My visual field is therefore rubbish (about 60%) in my left eye. I never noticed this as i was born with it and my right eye has compensated since birth.
This is going to sound stupid but i though as i was right handed, my right eye was stronger than my left eye but ive got it checked out by a neurosurgeon who told me that it wont get worse but it will never improve.
Do i have a chance (even a teeny weeny small one) of passing the Class 1 in the UK or should i thank Mother Nature for screwing up my lifelong dream. I have to admit when i found out that there was no chance of improvement in my case, i felt as if my whole life crashed around me.
Your best course of action is to speak to the CAA medical division. They may want to see you before giving a decision. But for goodness sake, don't base any career decisions on heresay or what unqualified people tell you, even if it is well intentioned.
I had a similar problem. I have browns syndrome and have 88% of normal vision in my right eye. I was in and out of the hospital for 8 months getting test's done as I am a rare case apparantly. It was confrimed by the opthamologist from the RVI that I have had it from birth and my brain has adapted to it. I didnt even notice it untill a quick check up before I booked my class 1. The opthamologist wrote me a nice letter to take down to gatwick. At the first medical I was reffered to the CAA opthamologist. After going back down the following month to see him I got my medical cert.
Hope this helps.
PM me if you want more details about my experience.
There are many different eye tests involved with the class 1 at Gatwick, and by visual field i assume you mean how much area you can view in your peripheral vision (100º or 130º etc)? For this, the examiner stood in front of me and made me look straight into his eyes, whilst at the same time waving a metal bar out to his sides. This bar was right on the edge of your peripheral whilst looking straight forward and he would ask you whether it was still or whether he was wobbling it. This was done at various points all around your peripheral vision.
I would certainly go and have the medical before any commercial training, and i think you may even be able to just have the eye test by itself (?!). But whatever you do, be completely honest with them. I was worried about one particular aspect before i went, I put it all down on the form provided, the doctor had a look at it - but was not in the slightest bit concerned about it - and i walked out with my Class 1 certificate
I was in a similar situation as you last year. I was diagnosed to be borderline glaucoma. My eye pressure was basically too high which in time could lead to damage to the optical nerve and eventually loss of peripheral vision. This has not happened so my field tests are just fine.
I talked to the CAA about this and they said to me that if I can pass the field test (which I did), then they don't have any problem with me taking daily eye drops to keep the pressure under control. I just need to send them my field test results every year now.
Your situation is different as you say your left eye has only 60% view. That may be a problem. I would advise you to talk to the CAA directly. They are understanding and there is no point "hiding" information from them.
You will need to have an Estermann field test done. That's a particular field test they prefer which very few high street opticians actually do.
So I'd say talk to the CAA eye department. They will probably tell you to get one of those Estermann tests done. Or you could go to Gatwick for your class 1 medical of course, but you 'd better make sure the 60% vision is not an issue for them (it could well be, I'm afraid), otherwise the fee for the class 1 is a waste of money...
Good luck with it. Don't give up, I got my class 1 Medical in the end.
if it is a Esterman test, i can wave my dreams good bye as ive had that at my optician twice and failed. Just to make sure the Opthalmalogist at the Royal Free hospital made me do it 3 x over a 2 week period and i failed every time!
Even the thought of having £35K in my bank account and a good job to ride out the credit crunch does not come close to making me feel good!
I pray my kids are not born with the same problem as i have.
I'm sorry to hear that you failed the Esterman field test. If I were you I'd still ring up the CAA. One can but try, though as far as I know some countries even refuse to issue you with a driving licence if you fail this test, which, again as far as I know (I may be wrong), is the least stringent of them all.
To be honest, I think you can kiss the class 1 medical goodbye, but look on the bright side: you may well be entitled to a class 2 (check with the CAA but you may want to remain anonymous --> for class 2 medicals you don't need a field test, just an acuity test, nuff said ) and with 35k in the bank you can do a LOT of private flying. Get a PPL, build some hours, enjoy yourself and travel through the USA or Europe in your own plane -- you might actually have much more fun than pushing buttons in the heavy jets without the added stress of finding a job or be at risk of losing your job.
Hi guys, its interesting to hear what people have been experiencing, but i have a question... i have a slight issue with astigmatism...
I wanted to know whether or not the guidlines meant that the combined correction fell into the pass or the individual parts as in...
My eyesight just tested today gave results :
Right : sphere -2.75, Cylinder -1.75, axis 180
left : sphere -2.00, cylinder -2.00, axis 170
right/left distance acuity: 6/6-1
right/left near acuity: N5
visual fields are full/ ishihara test is pass.
basically i'm borderline just making it in, in terms of astigmatism....but the combined power makes their requirements of -6 dioptres. Will i likely pass or do they really think about it and make me fail?
Im in the process of having my medical history sent off to gatwick to see what they say as i have IBS and was thinking i'll send off a copy of my prescription aswell. any help or words of comfort would be nice!
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