It may be productive to investigate multifocal contact lenses. I have worn rigid gas permeable multifocal contacts for decades and now at almost age 70 I have corrected vision to 20/15 and have no need for supplemental eyeglasses for reading or other purposes. FAA has no problem with these for CPL/Class 2 med cert. Not sure how this would work for ATPL or airline requirements, and outside the U.S. My uncorrected vision is something like 20/200 and as a result have worn some form of correction since a child. Switched to contacts in 1967 and never looked back. Have been able to get a much better correction than with eyeglasses, and the lifestyle improvement is huge. Not all folks tolerate contacts well, but if you can, you can have most of the benefits of surgery with little of the downside. I do carry back up eyeglasses when I fly but in 46 years of flying, have never needed them (for flying or any other purpose).
Over the years, I have considered various forms of surgical vision correction, however my AME has consistently advised against this approach.
Last edited by EN48; 31st July 2012 at 01:59.