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.
I am 27 years of age...an air traffic controller and have keratoconus for the past 7 years. I don't wear correcting lenses, however, i do have my medical at the end of the month and may be asked to get some!! I am waiting to go to Germany for Crosslinking treatment to stop the progression. I am desperately trying to find someone who has this eye condition so as I can get their experience of it as eithera controller or pilot.
I had keratoconus - successfully treated, although that was back in the early eighties. I have PM'd you.
(PS: I'm not a controller or a qualified pilot - although I've had some lessons recently - but it's quite a rare condition, so you might not find anyone with it who is...)
Last edited by Blues&twos : 10th May 2007 at 23:54.
Hello, I also have been suffering from keratoconus and I am a pilot. I pretty much have given up on flying because I could only get 20/25 to20/30 in my left eye. I also am desperately seeking advice as far as what can I do to have this condition under control. I just have had the C3R treatment (collagen crosslinking) done about 4 months ago. I was also fitted with RGP lenses about a few days ago and my right eye was just fine with 20/20, even reading most of the letters from the 20/15 line. But my left eye just will not give up. The best result that I am currently able to achieve is 20/25 in my left eye and that’s with missing a few letters. Could you also PM me or email me at ryssebastian@aol.com as far as what can I do to get 20/20 in each eye. THANKS a BUNCH
SebastianRys - Have emailed you, although probably not much useful advice.....I'm surprised at how much better I feel just speaking to (well, emailing) two other people with the same condition. I've never met or spoken to anyone else with k/c before!
Hello, I am a pilot and I also have been suffering from keratoconus. I wear a correcting lense on my right eye althought I usually don't wear it because I wear it with difficulty. What is the C3R treatment ? Does it give good results ? Is this treatment allowed by a civil aviation authority ? I intend to convert my ICAO commercial licence into JAR licence (British CAA). Did someone experience a class 1 medical check in CAA with a keratoconus ?
The reports seem to be very good in terms of halting k/c progression and in some cases reversing the effects to some extent. I wish it had been around 25 years ago when I had my treatment - corneal grafting. It went extremely well and I have 6/6 vision.
Anyway, SebastianRys and Jolly Roger should be in a better position to let you know about the treatment as they have (or will have) undergone the procedure, whereas I haven't.
I have recently been diagnosed with Keratoconus so you are certainly not alone guys! I have discussed the possibility of undergoing collagen cross-linking (C3-R) with my ophthalmologist. After doing a full set examinations, she thinks that I could be a very good candidate for this treatment especially as the corneas in both of my eyes still have enough thickness. I am in real need of feedback from those of you who have had this treatment and/or recommendations for a specialist in cross-linking who I can go to. As I am pressed for time (my health insurance expires soon) I would appreciate feedback from anyone as I need to have the treatment done as soon as possible. Many thanks in advance!
I have it in my left eye, im 26 and it doesnt effect me when using my both eyes, i have glasses but only use them on the computer and they give me normal vision in the effected eye.
My question, is it possible to get a commercial pilots licence with this condition ?
If its not possible with the JAA then how about the FAA ?
Idealy im looking for advice from pilots out there who also have this condition, as flying for a career has being my dream for years, i started training on fixed wing when i was 17 but stopped when i was 18 as i noticed a change in my left eye and was afraid of spending a fortune on training and then being told down the line that i couldnt fly anymore.
I know it is probably an expensive way to find out but could you pass a medical, required for the issue of a flying licence? I appreciate that passing now would not necessarily mean passing again in ? years time. Why not try and find out free from your GP? More info at http://www.lcrs.co.uk/
yeah, i'd go for a medical, if you are eligible for a class one medical, you're all good to fly! i think you can get your PPL with a class two (i'm speaking in terms of australian medical certs, i'm not sure if it is global)
I used to suffer from kc, fixed back in the eighties by corneal grafting, but there is another treatment these days - there was a thread about this a few months ago. I'll try to find it for you...
In fact, use of the Search facility has turned up a surprising number of other kc threads/sufferers on PPRuNe, some with medical/licence issues...give it a try!
Hi folks. Failed my medical there about four months ago after being diagnosed on the day with keratoconus. Real shock as I'm sure some will know. Could anyone who has had a similar experience shed light on any steps I could now take? I've been seeing an opthamologist, but that's still in the early stages. What's the consensus on how likely it is to pass an initial medical having previously failed one? All and any musings appreciated...
I just came across the following and I quote it from page 4 of Vol.42, No. 1 of the "Federal Air surgeon's medical Bulletin" issued by the US FAA. It's a bit dated as it goes back to 2004 but it indicates that it is possible for pilots with Keratoconus to continue flying provided certain requirements are met. Below is the relevant excerpt. If you want to read the whole thing you can go to: http://www.faa.gov/library/reports/m...ia/F2004_1.pdf
"The Aerospace Medical Certification
Division has also been in discussions
with the Medical Specialties Division in
Washington about the use of Orthokeratolgy
for correction of refractive error.
This procedure is already permitted for
the treatment of keratoconus in airmen
upon receipt of a favorable FAA Eye
Exam (Form 8500-7). The guidance is
as follows:
Orthokeratology is acceptable for medical
certification purposes, provided
the airman can demonstrate corrected
visual acuity in accordance with medical
standards defined in 14 CFR Part
67. When corrective contact lenses are
required to meet vision standards, the
medical certificate must have the appropriate
limitation annotated (MUST
WEAR CORRECTIVE LENSES).
Advise airmen that they must follow
the prescribed or proper use of orthokeratology
lenses to ensure compliance
with vision standards. Airmen should
think about how they wear their lenses
to modify their corneas in relation to
their flying habits so that their visual
acuity is within standards during the
time period of flight. Airmen should
also consider changes or extensions of
their work schedules when deciding on
orthokeratology retainer lens use.
Another inquiry since the last Bulletin
concerned the Crystalens, a model AT-45
accommodative intraocular lens (IOL).
Per the Ophthalmology Times, the lens affords
patients clear, uncorrected vision at
near, intermediate, and distance. Once
inserted, it was found that the ciliary
muscle allows it to adjust the vision.
The lens was approved in November
of 2003. Now that it is in wide use,
there have been some issues with glare.
Prior to accepting it for flying, we are
going to wait one year to evaluate the
secondary effects.
We also need to reiterate that the uses
of multifocal lenses, either as contacts or
as intraocular lenses, are unacceptable
at this time. They can cause glare and
halos at night, even requiring the use
of the unacceptable topical medication
Pilocarpine!
Now, let’s do some cases. Note, only
the Federal Air Surgeon or his designees,
the Regional Flight Surgeons, and the
Manager, Aerospace Medical Certification
Division, can authorize a waiver or
special issuance."
I am really interested in working as a pilot!!!! Actually I am cabin crew in the Middlea East and I have a slight keratoconus whoch is treated with high gas permable rigid contact lenses! I do not have any problems and my prescription has not changed within the last 4 years after I was diagnosed with this condition! I fullfill the visula acuity standards and I understand in the CAA Homepag ethat Keratoconus will no longer be disqualifying if applicants meet the visual acuity!!! Who can help me by confirming this? I just checked the above link in the last posting!
Hello guys.... as my experience.... keratoconus is a little thin into cornea. To identify it, is necessary a corneal topography as to identify any l@ser surgery as well. At Gatwick they didn't use corneal topography when they've check my eyes and I didn't saw any equipment for this test. So I think if you have a keratoconus they will never know it.
You can fly FAA Class I with keratoconus as long as you still meet the vision requirements. Check out C3-R corneal collagen crosslinking, it's not approved yet in the states but it is in europe and I hear it will stop the progression of keratoconus
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