johnuk

Hi all,
I'm wondering if anyone can help me with this...

I've had a UK class 2 medical for about 10 years, & had LASIK surgery a few months ago. My eyesight is now more or less perfect, & I'll have no problem passing any eyesight tests for a renewal.

However, I'm a bit concerned about the CAA stating that the pre-LASIK prescription must not be worse than +5. My pre-LASIK prescription was approx +6 in both eyes, which would not pass an initial class 2 medical, but would pass a renewal as there are no limits on refraction for renewals (my eyes were better than +5 for my initial medical 10 years ago but deteriorated slightly over the years).

So my question is - can anyone confirm that the pre-LASIK-prescription limits only apply to initial medical exams, and not to existing class-2 medical holders? The CAA don't make this clear on their website.

Thanks in advance,
John

Creep Feed Grinder

John,

Before I open my mouth, can I just check.

Your prescrition is definately + not -?

johnuk

Yes, my prescription *was* +, not -.
My eyes were approx +5.50 & +6.00.
They are now both approx 0.

Dupre

Hi,

Does anyone have any experience with corneal refractive therapy lenses? Are they able to be used in aviation - when your medical may state "must wear corrective lenses"?

They sound like an ideal solution to me, but I've never acutally known anyone to use them.

Cheers

Creep Feed Grinder

Johnuk,

Sorry for the delayed response.

Your Hyperopia was higher than normaly considered for Lasik. This may be of concern to the CAA.

There is no Myopic limit for Class 2 renewal but the +5.00 limit for Hyperopia remains, so you shouldn't even have a Class 2. I'd take comfort in this.

The pre-LASIK-prescription limits apply to initial medical exams; disregard your existing Class 2.

My suggestion would be to write to the CAA and ask them.

In my similar case, got a reply within 8 weeks. Your Class 2 and PPL are in your favour. Do lots of research - especially EASA, JAR & the deviation route.

Good Luck

jakeekaj

Need assurance for my vision.
Do I fall in the boundaries for the Class 1 Medical.

Test results are from today: -

Left: 6/5

Right: 6/6

Both together : 6/5

Firewalled

Hi All,

Why do the medical requirements specify that contact lenses can only be used to correct distant vision and not also near vision?

Fantome

Contact lenses are fine for most myopes (short sighted) as they can usually accommodate to focus close up when wearing the correction. These are concave lenses with, if needed, cylinder to correct for any astigmatism.

With hypermetropes (long sighted) it is quite different. The convex lens corrects properly for close work put it will not allow the wearer to focus on more distant objects. Next time you are in the chemists put on any pair of reading glasses off the rack and check your distance vision, how blurred it is. That is the equivalent of trying to see through a contact lense of any positive power, i.e. convex.

Firewalled

Fantome,

Thanks for your reply

I am a hypermetrope with +4 left and +5 right. I've always worn glasses and had no problems with clear near, intermediate and distant vision.

So if i wear contact lenses with these powers how will they not allow me to focus on distant objects? this is what im finding a little bit strange.

Fantome

Guess your best bet is to talk to a few optometrists and see if they give you consistent explanations. Such advice should be freely given.

Sable Knight

Contact lenses are not permitted for near vision only since you will lose the ability to focus in the distance. This mainly affects people aged over 40.

A pre-presbyope has the ability to focus in the distance, near and intermediate and therefore will not have any problems. A presbyope (difficulty with near vision) struggles to adjust there vision for near. By using contact lenses JUST for near, the instrument panel will look nice an clear but the pilot will stuggle to see the runway.

I hope this helps

Firewalled

Thanks Sable Knight!

rodoc

Hi everyone,

Wonder if someone could explain... I know the regs on the Class 1 but I have no idea how to decipher my prescription. What is the numbers I'm meant to be looking at that are meant to be in the +5 range?

Thanks in advance!

welliewanger

The unit you're looking for is Dioptres (dpt for short)
Dioptre - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

copywrite33

Rodoc,

I took the guidelines into a very well known opticians in Leith. The opticians partner was a Pilot and had no problem checking against the guidelines for me and didnt expect any extra payment.

You get free eye tests in Scotland so may as well use it!

rodoc

Thanks for the info! I am going to the optitions tomorrow for an eye test, I will take the requirements away with me and see what he says.

I'm very sure that you will all know this, the wording of the JAR Class 1 is: '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).'

The bit I don't understand is 'taking into account any astigmatism'. Does this mean I have to add the numbers on my prescription?

Thanks,
rodoc

Dr Jekyll

That's right.

Sharmanat0r

Hi folks, this is my first post and I am just looking for any advice from those that know more

Im 26 and looking into flight school, have not yet decided what route to take, but one aspect that is frying my head are the Visual Standards for the Class 1 Medical certification.

They say that its ok if your refractive error does not exceed +5 or -6 dioptres and that any astigmatism must not exceed 2 dioptres.

I have had my eyes checked recently and they are as below

SPH CYL AXIS
Reye (-3.75) (-1.8) (2)
Leye (-3.75) (-1) (9)

As I understand it, my eyesight is acceptable to obtain a class 1 Medical. (I took the standards to my optician)

I am worried that because my astigmatism in my right eye is very close to 2 dioptres that in a few years I may fail the medical, but then I found out that Class 1 renewals do not have any limits on refractive error or astigmatism after the initial medical has been obtained (Is this definately correct?)

My dilemma is that I have been looking at getting LASIK Wavefront surgery for quite a while and really want to get it done, not just for flying but for every other reason that people who needs glasses have. It says in the standards that I can obtain a medical as long as I wait 3 months after the surgery and obtain all the relavant post-op checks.

But Im worried as a tiny % of surgeries can go wrong (0.1%) and I dont want to ruin any chance I may have of becoming a pilot... I really want to get this surgery done and im thinking two things:-

- I dont know if it would be better to go and obtain the medical now, with my eyes as they are, and after that do the surgery (voiding the medical) as then I would only be required to renew? Sounds like it might be safer cause I have the initial medical at least

- or should I just get the surgery and prey for the best?

I have been deliberating about this for weeks as I had my eye surgery consultation and I just need to decide...

Any help or advice would be deeply appreciated

Thanks very much

Jerry Lee

Hi boys,
are there any eyesight limitation with CASA in Australia, or is it like the FAA where is needed only to see 20/20 with correction?

Thanks in advance!!!

Jazzy78910

Might be better asked in the Medical or Dunnunda sections, but corrected 20/20 is fine.

I'm pretty sure actually, that you don't even need 20/20 for the class 1 medical, but only close to...