Irishwingz

Hey Guys

been trying to see what I can do about my prescription - its around +6.00.

I cant get lasik as the prescription is too high so an alternative is a perspex insertion (intra ocular lens IOL) into the eye on top of my own lens - they dont remove my own lens.

The procedure is pricey - looking at £2400 per eye!

First and foremost, has anyone done it?

Secondly - has your class 1 been re issued/approved after a check up with the medical people?

I'm aware that you need to be within limits pre-surgery blah blah but I'd still like to know.

Thanks a lot

Max Angle

As with most questions on this forum the answer is talk to the CAA Medical Division at Gatwick (01293 567171). They are very helpfull and will be able to give you an answer.

The SSK

I had mine done in Brussels by a world-class opthal... eye guy and it didn't cost a fraction of that. I could check it out for you.

Flight my fire

Hello to all you !

Like many of you, I've got a big passion for aviation since my childhood. Unfortunately, not gifted by Mother Nature with my eyes, I've always heard that I could never a pilot with my vision.
I'm a 30 year old pilot, with a glider pilot licence and 200 flight hours and working as a dispatcher on an airport. But my passion is flying.
I hoped a few years ago that I could go on a CPL training in the USA, my myopia was in the US standards ( - 4.25 both eyes ) even if hadn't gone on a US medical. I was not with french standards either.
And at 20, I discovered that I had a small strabismus ( unvisible when people look at me ).
I considered unnecessary to go on a US medical, spending my money just to hear the doctor at the end telling that I'm unfit because i can't see all the pictures in relief. ( stereoscopic ), just a few ones.
I discovered that since 1996, there is no longer limits for diopters. Just be corrected 20/20.

My problems are :
Myopia ( not small )
Right eye ( -5.75 ( + 0.50 of astigmatism )
Left eye ( -5.50 ( +0.25 of astigmatism )

Too much for European Class 1 admission.

Strabismus:

3 diopters prisms beside my correction. ( FAA standards have a limit at 6 diopters prisms for esophoria ).

I have already read some people concerned with a problem of strabismus.
I know that medical standards are going in a better way with vision.
Would it be possible to get a FAA Class 1, in my case. Because it shouldn't be possible to get a JAA Class 1. ( In England or in France ). They're very strict in France ( I'm French ).
I'm sorry to be so long with my story, but I would be very happy to have comments from people in the same case as me, who could get a Class 1 in the USA or in Europe.
Thank you very much for answering me.

Blinkz

I am not totally sure I understand exactly what is the main problem with your eyes. Do you meet the renewal requirements for the JAA medical? If so then the UK will issue you a class 1 deviation and will allow you to train and gain your licence.

Jimmy The Big Greek

I don't think you will have any problem with your strabismus as long as you do not have double vision. They do not test your stereoscopic vision.

Flight my fire

My main problem blinkz is the my stereoscopic vision which is not perfect.
For JAA, of course my myopia is within renewal standards ( - 8 diopters if I'm right ) but not within admission standards ( - 5 diopters, I don't know if deviation is possible in that case ), but is OK for FAA.
This year I met a colleague of mine, operated in childhood for esophoria as well, ( but with 24/20 vision )who succeded to get a canadian and a FAA Class 1. ( Sometimes Miss Luck comes by your side !)

Do you confirm Jimmy ? If I'm right , I remember that you're concerned , aren't you ?

Jimmy The Big Greek

There is no stereoscopic vision requirement.
Don't do your medical France. France thinks they are better that the rest of europe and therefore they have their own requirements.

And by the way. you do not have esophoria you have esotropia.

Blinkz

ah ok, talk to the UK CAA and they will give you some good advice. If you can meet the renewal limits then the CAA will most likely issue you with an intial class 1.

Flight my fire

Ok i'm going to give a call to the CAA in order to know what could be my chances.
Yes in France, they always think they know about things better than the others but things are changing with new rules
since June in accordance with JAA.
( - 8 / + 5 diopters for renewal).
Hope that a deviation is possible.
Otherwise, stays the US option.

Excuse me Jimmy but as a friend told me, he was tested by FAA doctor for stereoscopic vision.

Other comments are welcome.

Jimmy The Big Greek

I know for sure that the FAA does not require stereopsis tests.
Maybe some doctors test it just to see the quality of the binoccular vision.

I think that you will not have any problems with JAA medical. Maybe for the FAA you will need to do a SODA since they are a bit stricter with strabismus.

Anyway, best thing to do is to take a medical and see what they say.

Flight my fire

Ok Jimmy. Let's try with CAA how things can go.
I'm surprised that FAA is stricter than JAA.
I thought that it was the contrary.
Anyway, as you read in my previous post I'm in the limits for FAA and CAA for my esophoria prisms ( 3 diopters prisms ) . It just remains that i won't be able to see all the 3 D pictures for JAA Class 1.
The only way to know is trying.

Merry Christmas, everybody !

pilotezulu

hey chaps,

just wondering if anybody could help me out in figuring out whether i would pass a class 1 medical with the condition of my eyes. i already have a class 2... so perhaps i may pass?

here are the details:

Sph Cyl Axis
-3.25 -0.25 165
-3.25 -0.50 15

I wear both glasses as well as contacts. Any body know anything about the requirements?

any feedback wud be great.

cheers.

Blinkz

You should be fine with that, class 1 limit is -5

pilotezulu

oh good deal...

don't want to get to -5 ... im assuming it gets worse with age. jeez.

probably shud start dosing up on the vitamin A eh?

thanks for the input Blinkz

Blinkz

you should be fine mate, the -5 limit is only for inital issue of the class 1, after that it goes up to -8 and I think that when you get older your eyes tend to go longsighted.

LGB

Check google for either natural vision or vision improvement. I have cut my nearsightedness in half. It is a matter of being able to relax the muscles in the eye when you are nearsighted.

Capetonian1

Just to clarify a previous post, esophoria is a hidden or latent extra-ocular muscle imbalance. In other words it is a condition for a tendency for the eyes to either move inwards (esophoria) or outwards (exophoria). The presence of an eso- or exo-phoria is not noticeable when simply looking at someone, it can only be detected under certain test conditions. However, a tropia (esotropia or exotropia) is a visible "squint" and is obviously noticeable to anyone who would see an eye squinting either inwards or outwards.

Flight my fire

Hello Capetonian.

Abslolutely, in my case it is clear , it is about esophoria. Hidden squint. It can be detected by tests done by an orthoptist ( among them , ball and stereocopic pictures ). It is not noticeable when looking at me .

Flyin'Dutch'

FAA does require Eso/Exophoria test for class 1 and 2.

Rest of Jimmy tG's posts is correct.

If you fall within renewal criteria but are outside initial criteria CAA can issue class 2 which can be converted to a class one when you get your CPL.