So close, yet so far: Class 1 medical, Crohns Disease & eyesight
So I went and had an initial Class 1 assessment before commencing my PPL(H) as my intention was always to fly commercially. I was quite concerned I may not pass due to having Crohns Disease, so I booked for a Class 1 before spending thousands of pounds on flight training.
I did a bit of research into my Crohns and Class 1 and found that the refusals generally are for people who are suffering (from their Crohns) or the people that are on the Steroid meds. I'm neither, which as I thought, didn't exclude me. In fact my Crohns was quite insignificant, as I brought along a letter from my specialist outlining my current status which basically said I am in remission.
Where my issue lay was in fact my eyesight. I'd gone in all worried about my Crohns, and didn't have much concern for my eyesight. They performed all the relevant tests and found that I just struggled with reading the 6/6 line (with correcting lenses on).. they also found the prescription I was wearing was inaccurate - it's only three months old! So, I was declined a Class 1 medical on the grounds of my eyesight being unsuitable. But it is sufficient for Class 2.
The next day I went into my normal opticians and relayed all what had happened the previous day and re-sat my eyetest. It was found that my prescription was indeed wrong, and also that I was reading the 6/6 line better with the correct prescription than what I had done with the AME optmometrist. But still not 100% perfect. Some lines I read 4/4 letters correctly, others just 3/4. I was getting A's and H's a bit muddled.and P's and F's.
I came out of specsavers even more disappointed than I was the day before, as I felt so close to obtaining my Class 1 medical.
Is there anything anyone on here can suggest that I do? I've been reading a lot about people having laser eye surgery on some of the flying forums, but understand it is still quite a shady area when it comes to flying?
P.S, if anyone is interested in my prescription, I can post it up tomorrow.