RedBullGaveMeWings

What is the process that a pilot must go through now in order to get LASIK eye surgery done?
Must the CAA be adviced prior the surgery takes place? What is requested afterwards? I'm referring to all the paper work and the process that a pilot must go through and for how long can the pilot not fly?

ShyTorque

Just bear in mind that you are obliged to inform the CAA of any serious illness or medical procedure.

Don't take my word for it, ask any CAA AME.

Swiss Cheese

I had LASIK two years ago, and I held a Class 2 medical for my PPL H. I notified my AME, who in turn notified the CAA. The CAA sent me a nice letter saying my Class 2 Cert was suspended (for 90 days from date of Op and subject to my AME being satisfied that Op done ok). My AME reviewed the Lasik Consultants post Op review, all was good. CAA duly informed, and Class 2 Medical restored without reference to need for glasses/contacts.

All very smooth and satisfactory. Class 1 is of course more stringent, and any suggestion of the eyes not settling down post LASIK will be an issue I suspect. Needless to say, it is worth getting the best LASIK surgeon to do this Op, especially if your job depends on it being done properly.

Good luck

justasmallfire

It was a few years ago I had mine done,I informed them beforehand,6 month suspension,had to get consultant to sign forms every checkup afterwards and after 6 month had final check up with surgreon then had to go gatwick and pay their AME for same checks before getting back medical.
My advice is go all out and get what they called 'wavefront' and the full works to limit possible side effects and to get best results.(night glare is biggest cause of failure.but can improve after time.I didnt get this as problem myself)

FlyingDumbells

Hello.

I was wondering if anyone could help me. I need to find out if my eyesight is acceptable to the UK CAA for an initial class 1.

My prescription done today is Left Eye: -5.50 sphere, -1.75 cylinder, 180 Axis and Right Eye: -6.00 sphere, -1.50 cylinder, 180 Axis.

I have read this below but I am unsure weather I meet the requirement as I do not know if ''refractive error'' means adding the astigmatism onto the refractive error to get a total? If that was the case then above left eye would be -7.25 so it would be out of limits. Can someone clarify what is correct, without having to travel to the UK to do the medical?

''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. If your refraction exceeds the limits stated above, please contact the
CAA medical department for further advice''

7120

Hi,

Your spherical equivalent (refractive error) is -6.375 left and -6.75 right. Although within limits for the astigmatic component you are respectively 0.375 and 0.75 dioptres over for left and right eye.

Don't despair. It's more than likely that your vision is better than the the 6/6 cutoff with the Optometrists' prescription. Go back and ask him to recheck your vision with a combination of sphere and cylinder that does not exceed -6.0 dipotres. Although you will be slightly defocussed, given that you slightly exceed the limits, you should get 6/6. Record this as your refraction. Ensure he tests your vision in as bright a light as possible - constricts the pupil creating a vision sharpening pinhole effect.

If you still have problems I'd be very surprised if an Ophthalmologist examination, as per guidance, doesn't clear you as OK

FlyingDumbells

7120 thank you for your response. I went and saw an Opthamologist today to see if I could pass the eye exam for this initial medical, I gave him the document that was quoted in the previous which brought him to ask the same question I asked before. If I revisit say an Optometrist this time, what would it matter if I had a script from him, saying overall spherical -6.00 refraction in either eye? I mean I'd have to pass on the day at Gatwick. Also would the glasses I need to bring then be this script? Also ''Ensure he tests your vision in as bright a light as possible - constricts the pupil creating a vision sharpening pinhole effect.'' Not sure how I'd do that on the day of it?

How does one work out the spherical equivalent with sphere and cylinder numbers?

Thanks

7120

Spherical equivalent is spherical plus half of cylindrical refraction. It looks as if the Ophthalmologist you have seen has reached a similar conclusion to myself. Looks as if you should have no problem meeting the visual requirements.

ramseyoptom

Hi Flying Dumbells,
Sorry but, you are outside the regulations in both eyes.

Spherical equivalent does not count in this case. If you read the regulations carefully then the most ametropic meridian (highest) in each eye is

Right -7.25 and Left -7.50

the cyl powers are within the regulations.

The information given by your Ophthalmologist is incorrect, plus the fact the test will not be done in very bright light, in order to get a pinhole effect.

As to ask your optometrist to give you a lower prescription to try and get you just within regulations, if it were from me - NO CHANCE. Something goes wrong and the optom will be on the wrong end of a "fitness to practice case" and that is some where none of my collegues want to be.

TizerTheAppetizer

Does anybody know of any airline pilots flying with one good eye and another that doesn't quite make the EASA Class 1 standard?

The CAA allows this now, if I am correct.

I ask because a rugby eye injury at the age of 18 stopped my childhood dreams of becoming an airline pilot.

I've had two successful careers in banking and the media since but now in my 40s I think this is my last chance of doing something I first wrote about when I was 12-years-old.

My left eye is very very good -- better than 20/20 when corrected.

My right eye corrected is about 20/30. But I had the natural lens removed due to the injury, so without correction it's +55 or something ridiculous like that. I also had some damage to the iris but I've played cricket, football, driven etc etc with no problems and the eye is stable.

I'm going to my opthalmologist on Tue with the CAA form...

But if the CAA don't give me a Class 1 medical I don't know how 'm going to take it.

Thank you.

ramseyoptom

It may be possible for your ophthalmologist to fit an Intra Ocular Lens (IOL) in your right eye, if you are as your post indicates aphakic (no natural or replacement lens). This does depend on what sort of damage you have done to the eye internally. If he will not then seek a second opinion.

Without further information it is not possible to comment further.

TizerTheAppetizer

Yes, thank you, I think that will be an option, together with an artificial iris if I want one, but I don't want to get it done now as the CAA will probably want 3 or 6 or 9 or who knows how many months for the eye to settle before seeing me again.

And as I'm having no difficulty with my vision I don't see the need to take the risk with surgery.

Thanks.

oldpax

Athough not in the flying business I still work and my vision was pretty poor .I had glasses with progressive lenses for long and short sight but even this was becoming of little use.Last month I took the plunge and had interlocular lenses fitted.I cannot tell you really what a difference this has made!!Apart from having the ability to see near and far all in focus my world of colour has come back(cataracts in both eyes).I have to go back in two months for a check up.The procedure was done with only eye drops and I could see all that went on ,it really was no bother and only slightly uncomfortable as irrigating water was dropped in.
I recommend this for anyone with eye problems.Had it done in Thailand at my local international hospital .

TizerTheAppetizer

oldpax -- I'm so glad it worked out for you. Sounds great. I'm sure I'll have an IOL implanted at some stage, but not just yet because I don't want to give the CAA an excuse for failing me my Class 1... by which I mean, them saying "You've only had the op done recently and we want to wait until it settles down etc etc"

truckflyer

TizerTheAppetizer: with +5.5 you will not pass your initial Class 1 examination, specially now they are part of EASA, I don't even think they will give you restricted UK licence, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, even if against odds they did give you class 1, it would be limited to UK AC only, which would make it more or less impossible to get a job with an airline!

Blunt but honest answer.

CharlieDeltaUK

I have a class 2 medical, with vision corrected for +6.5 (ish). If one applies for a Class 1, it looks like one needs uncorrected vision better than +-5. But, if I already have a class 2, is it possible to get a class 1 on the basis of corrected vision being OK, or am I forever precluded from a class 1 because my uncorrected vision is worse than +-5.0?

Having looked at the EASA doc, I think the answer could depend on whether a class 1 medical for me is an initial assessment or a re-validation. Also, I see that section e says there is no limit for incorrected visal acuity, which seems to contradict the previous paragraphs.

Lets hope pilot

I'd love to be an airline pilot!
I am marginally over the limit in both eyes both being over +5

Is there any way around this could I obtain a class one medical still ??
If not are there any other pilot jobs that don't require a class one ?

truckflyer

When you say marginally, what are the exact numbers?

Have you spoken to the CAA yet about it? You need to give full details to be able to give some advice.

truckflyer

CharlieDeltaUK - do you have link to the EASA documents?

It does seems you will not get class 1, from what you have told me, at least how it stands at the moment.
And I do know this is very hard to accept, as this is a rule that is completely nonsense, and it is a rule the CAA UK have been fighting against! But there are some other EASA members who have a more backwards view of this, unfortunately.

A quick question, during your class 2, did the CAA make records of your corrective eyesight requirement? If not, there might be some ways to get where you want, but nothing is clear in the water.

If you wish a career within aviation, I would suggest the way in would be going to the USA, and taking FAA licence, you probably would be fine for FAA class 1 medical, as they do not have a requirement for this with regarding uncorrected vision!
Of course, the chances of getting a job in Europe, could not be your priority, you would need to try to get experience via instructing, and get a job with a country that accepts FAA licence, so you will have more limited options, but not impossible, if you are young and have time to go this way.

If you PM me, I will give you more tips about other things you can do, however it does depend on what your exact situation is regarding this.

Lets hope pilot

+5.5 in one and +6 in other but both eyes are corrected to 20/30 I know that I think the one is corrected to 20/20 bar my eyes I'm fine.