quick question for CC trainers/recruiters

[SkySista]

(Should this be in Medical? Hmm...)

I'm trying to get into a ground ops or even perhaps CC role.... just one thing that's been bugging me....

I wear glasses for a couple of reasons, mainly, I'm shortsighted, but I also have what's called a nystagmus (sp?) where sometimes my eyes appear to shake. I've never had a problem with it, usually doesn't affect my vision. Only thing is, other people do sometimes notice it, a couple have even called it "freaky" :(

Would this affect a decision to hire me as CC? I ask because I wonder if a recruiter would be reluctant to hire me because they'd worry it might weird people out. As I said, it's not usually very noticeable, only occasionally if I'm very tired.... (I like to think people are more likely to notice my smile ;) )

Second, what kind of restriction is there for glasses-wearing... E.g. a certain percentage of good vision, certain conditions etc. Contacts have been suggested but unfortunately are not an option for me....

So, will it affect my chances....?

(Even if I have once used it to freak out a difficult customer.... :E )

Sky

[Schwartzvogel]

Nystagmus? Is that the same as lemus(also called ticks), where you're eyelid muscles starts firing uncontrollably? In that case, to fix it you just need to start eating Magnesium pills.

[SkySista]

I'm told it's caused by a weak optic nerve. It's the actual eyeball, not the eyelid that moves involuntarily. Occasionally when it has gotten severe, eg at a younger age when excited/stressed, I got comments from teachers about being "stoned" :E Fortunately nowhere near as noticeable now!

Sky

[keithl]

ss - I don't have the answer you're after, but while you're waiting for someone who does can I ask you this? Does your eye "shake" make it difficult to focus on detail? I imagine it would, and I ask because your post has reminded me of something that used to happen to my sight in the year before I retired from flying.
If I needed to see the exact reading on a small instrument, and especially if it was urgent, I couldn't "fix" on it somehow. My point of focus seemed to skitter all around the needle point and I couldn't read the scale.

It didn't happen often, so I didn't follow it up, but I'd be interested if anyone has an explanation.

[SkySista]

Hi keithl,

what you describe sounds like it could be the same condition. The "shake" does on occasion make it hard to focus on detail; as you say, it used to get worse if I was stressed, rushed or tired. Lots of caffeine can do it too. As a child I figured out that if I looked at things slightly sideways, it helped a bit. Most of the time movement was very slight; just enough to make me have to look twice...

In extreme circumstances, things look a bit like they would if I'd just spun round and round & were dizzy. Only just my eyes were moving. As I said, it doesn't happen as much now, and because I know what will usually lead up to it, I can avoid it. It usually looks worse to others than it is for me - which is why I'm concerned about what a recruiter might think, and also why actually flying is probably not a great idea - hard to land on a runway that keeps moving!!! ;)

Next time you're at the optometrist, just ask if s/he thinks you might have it. (Mine told me that nystagmus is often mistaken for astigmatism, which for years was what I was told - apparently astigmatism is deformity in the shape of your eye; nystagmus is the movement (shake) side of things... that's what he said...also that he'd not seen many cases in the time he'd been practicing.

Sky

PS- back to my question - also, is this something I should mention when they ask the question (on forms or otherwise) about things that may prevent you from performing your job properly? And would it matter for a medical?

[keithl]

Thanks for the reply, SkySista. Clearly a muscle thing. Your description does sound v. similar. I must say it never got so the runway was moving around, or I'd have taken it more seriously!

[G_STRING]

Skysister

This is a topic which in all honesty, you will probably find very little commonality with on this bulleting board.

I know all about the difficulties of nystagmus, becaus I have it myself. It is ABSOLUTELY not connected to astigmatism - this is a refractive error, caused by a conical shape of the eyeball.

When did you notice your nystagmus - has it always been present, or did it come on at a later age. There are two basic types - early onset, usually from the baby stage, or late onset.

There are also a number of causes - do you know what the cause of yours is? If not, I strongly suggest you are examined by a neurologist. This is the crux: nystagmus is a NEUROLOGICAL problem, secondary to a visual one, although it obviously effects the vision.

I have a pilots licence, (and funnily enough, worked for a number of years as cabin crew). The airline never picked up on it; indeed, there was no medical to go through, just a questionnaire, BUT the CAA sure as hell did, when I was in the process of getting my class 2. It took a long time to get, and involved numerous specialist reports, and a lot of cost.

This was for a class 2 - I cannot get a class 1 because of this problem.

As I say, get it checked out. With me, without going into too much detail, the cause is a deformity of the brainstem.

On another note, why are contact lenses not an option for you? In some cases, contacts can actually IMPROVE nystagmus. Nobody quite knows how, but it is believed to be due to a feedback mechanism taking place. Give them a try.

Whatever you do, best of luck. You are very much in the minority with this condition, but you are not alone!

G_STRING

[sixmilehighclub]

Hey SkySista

I would suggest you contact the recruitment departments of any airline you'd like to work for and pose the question to them. Most only require you have good vision and ask if you need to wear contacts or glasses. I have flown with crew before who wear glasses.

Some airlines run medicals through your GP, others have their own medical centres. Check with the airline whats on their medical form.

It may be felt, depending on the severity, that you may not be able to carry out duties, eg read announcements, focus on call bell lights, focus on or differentiate between small products (most airline products come in miniatures!), or read customs paperwork.

The 'freaking out the passenger' side of things would depend on the airlines policy. I've known crew with scarier make up than what your eye sounds!!!

Talk to the airlines, then if positive, go apply and good luck!!!

Six :ok:

[Flyin'Dutch']

2 Questions:

1. What is a CC?

2. Do you need an (aviation) medical for ground ops?

If you can give me the answers to both I will do my best to answer your original question

Best regards,

FD

[SkySista]

Thanks for your replies everyone.

I actually looked it up in my mother's Steadman Medical Dictionary, and the definition is quite interesting. Firstly, there were over 40 types listed!!! :eek:

I am definitely going to seek further info on this one; I am due for another eye check anyway.

G_STRING, thanks for your post. I'm glad to know there are other people with this - though I have never met any myself. Apparently I have always had this condition, it has even been suggested that it may actually have been brought on when I was born, as mine had a lot of complications, premy etc (interestingly, this can actually be a genetic thing, without the assosciated neurologic lesions) Also, I vaguely recall my mother mentioning something about my father exhibiting the same thing occasionally; I must ask her more about it.

congenital n., (1) Congenitally predetermined N. caused by lesions sustained in utero or at the time of birth; (2) inherited N., usually sex-linked without assosciated neurologic lesions and nonprogressive

As for contact lenses, I had tried them before, but was not able to keep them in, as they were extremely uncomfortable & made my eyes water like you wouldn't believe! I am however, going to try again as I was much younger at the time.

keithl, I was only partly right there, since looking at the dictionary I thought I'd share these with you, might explain things. I've picked out the ones that sounded relevant.

(The general definition is Ocular ataxia; rhythmical oscillation of the eyeballs, either pendular or jerky

Compressive n., a jerky n. resulting from unilateral changes of pressure in the semicircular canals

end-position n. deviational n.; a jerky, physiological n. occuring in a normal individual when attempts are made to fixate a point at the limits of the field of fixation.

fixation n., an n. most marked during fixation movements of the eyes, arising as optokinetic n., or resulting from midbrain lesions

opticokinetic n., optokinetic n., (also known as "railroad" n.) induced by looking at moving visual stimuli

rotational n., jerky n. arising from stimulation of the labyrinth by rotation of the head around any axis & induced by a change of motion

I don't profess to know anything at all about these, but they might give you an idea of what sort you might have & what you want to ask your doctor. I thought end-position andfixation were particularly interesting. Also, I don;t know if with Compressive n. they are talking about pressure changes in the inner ear - if so, perhaps after many years of flying it can be brought on by constant changes in pressure... hmmm......

Lol sixmilehighclub, I know what you mean about scary make up!! ha ha that was a good one.... :}

Anyway, thanks all for your suggestions, sorry if I missed anyone

Will see what happens....

Sky :)

PS Flyin'Dutch' CC is cabin crew, not sure about needing a medical for ground, but a friend who does groundwork said he needed one on applying, along wth security check etc. Will have to find that one out

[keithl]

Hey, thanks for the research and update SkySis!
I agree, the end position type sounds very likely to be the explanation for mine.

All the best with your own ambitions.

[SkySista]

Something else I thought of today. It's been said that this "problem" of mine isn't something I should mention right away to prospective employers. IF, however, once I get it checked out, and it does prove to have a neurological cause, or happened at birth, wouldn't it then be classed as a disability, thus making it necessary for me to disclose it on relevant paperwork as such? I wouldn't want to give false information.

On the same tack, if I were then told (highly unlikely but Im just asking :p ) that it was a factor in not being hired, would that be classed as being discriminated against? (I'm not the type to run off and sue people, I'm just curious as to what they can & can't state as a reason for not accepting)

Also, aren't employers required by law to employ a certain percentage with minor disablities in their work force? I've just heard of that rule before and want to know whether it does exist.

On the treatment side of things, I've found out that my maternal grandmother had the same condition (or similar) and that it was improved significantly after her cataract operation. So, it appears that contact lenses are a probably option after all!!

Just need to find some time to schedule an appointment!!! ;)

Sky

[G_STRING]

Sky

Good luck with the contacts. Tried them myself, but unfortunately didn't work for me. BUT they did make a difference, they appeared to 'speed up' the nystagmus. Looking back, vision was better, but my brain couldn't put up with the different signal.

I am going to try again, but this time, use a NON prescription lens. (I'm slightly short sighted, so decided to fix that at the same time). I'm hoping the non prescription lens might give the correct feedback.

Did try eye muscle surgery a few years ago, to move the null point, (the point at which vision is best), into the primary area. This too failed, which was extremely disappointing. Elected not to give it another go, which was offered.

This also may be an option for you - I believe if it works, the improvement can be excellent. You say you 'look to one side' sometimes. This is classified as a head turn, and you will do it almost automatically to locate your own null point. the NULL point is the position in which your nystagmus is least, (or non existant). All of us with nystagmus will have a null point.

To your question of who you tell. My experience with this is DON'T if you can get away with it. People use to regard me differently if they had an indication about my condition. Obviously, some factions, such as the CAA, had to know - they will do with you if you ever decide to go for a pilots licence.

Only you can decide. Sometimes, nystagmus is a b***dy pain in the backside, it can make you feel ill, sick, off-colour, etc.. Decide yourself how yours makes you feel, and decide accordingly.

If you try contacts, let us know how you get on

Regards GS