Class I - Limitation Requiring Ophthalmological Assessment
Hello everyone, I have a bit of a dilemma which maybe some of you can help with.
When I went for my first Class I last year, the optometrist identified some obscure deficiency in the binocular vision. It wasn't something to do with needing glasses, so they sent me off to do some visual therapy instead.
I started the therapy with an optometrist especialised in the subject, who was always very surprised as she thought the "issue" was very slight, but we started the therapy anyway. I am 36, so she recommended I got some cheap glasses to help with the inital stages of the therapy and then later moved on to do the the exercises without the glasses.
After 4/5 months of therapy I went back and they gave my Class I (without the glasses) but with a limitation that reads:
"Requires assessment by an ophtalmogist".
I was pretty annoyed at this, it sort of leaves a cloud hanging that I might loose my medical at any point, when it's definitely not the the case, because of something that 1) was so marginal that there was a question if it was ever real, 2) the therapy solved it and 3) I have better than 20/20 vision without glasses.
I accepted that was life for a year, but immediately went to a different EASA ophtalmogist to get a second opinion. This second Dr. said she saw no reason for the restriction and that she would be willing to remove it BUT on the condition that, because I am 36, I wear the glasses we used for therapy. I.e. there would be limitation instead to use glasses (+0.75 in both eyes if you are wondering)
Now it's renewal time and I went back for a pre-appointment with the original ophtalmogist. She said my vision is perfectly fine, but that she wants to maintain the restriction but make it that I require the assessment every two years, instead of yearly. I expressed my concerns about employability with this restriction and she says this is noted on certificates all the time, gave the example of someone that might be on the limit of their prescription and need new glasses next time, but she also didn't know what the restriction looks like on the certificate and if it will say that it's every two years instead of yearly, so she did exactly filled me with a lot of confidence that she knew what she was talking about as far as the side of the employer is concerned.
Now I don't know what to do. Should I just accept this restriction, or go to the other DR. and have a limitation to wear glasses? I don't know if this restriction is as normal as she was telling me or whether in the eyes of an employer (excuse the pun) would be preferable to have the limitations to wear glasses.
Ironically, I find the glasses super uncomfortable while flying and they definitely don't make me see any better with the reflections etc
I don't know if this cloud is real or just my insecurity about securing that coveted first job when I will be 37 by the time I finish, but if anyone know anything about this restriction then it would help me decide!
Thank you and sorry for the long post.