Bad Eye

[Leading_Edge]

Though I have sub-standard vision in my left eye (20/40, limit is 20/30)I was able to obtain a First class medical. I am correctable to 20/15 binocularly, however, I am concerned that having a weaker eye will disuade an airline from hiring me. If anyone has any feedback/advice it would be appreciated.

[wingnaprayer]

Hi Leading Edge,

The only way you will know for sure is to ask them. But for your own sake you should get the opinion of a consultant optomologist as to how long your binocular vision will hold up as your (and everyone else’s) eyesight deteriorates over time.

Do you have amblyopia? i.e. is one eye lazy so that when you have both open, your stronger eye overrides the weaker one?

Do you have to wear glasses to attain binocular vision?

The class 1 standards state that you should have binocular vision but I cant remember if it states the level of it.

I failed a class 1 on the binocular bit. My weaker eye can be corrected to 20/20 but my strong eye can almost read the “Made in England” stamp on the bottom of the chart and so overrides the weaker one, even when corrected to the 20/20.

I have made an appointment with a specialist for a second opinion and would be interested in your experiences.

Wingnaprayer.

[Leading_Edge]

Your eyes sound fairly good, I can't see any practical reason that you should fail. The JAR visual requirements seem unecessarily tight to me.

Anyways, you are prbably right, I see more with my right eye than I do with my left. If you have a lot of hours, sometimes you can obtain a waiver. I was told that I am safe to fly, but the doc said that an airline may not want to hire a pilot with my vision.

I have tried to get a hold of some of the biggies to answer my question but they don't seem to want to get back to me (specificly the North American carriers). As far as surgery goes, I don't believe it can correct
amblyopia.

Hopefully, the vision requirements will lighten up somewhat as there are many aspiring pilots out there who lack "perfect vision" and still can do a good job of flying an aircraft.

[wingnaprayer]

Unfortunately, there is no cure for amblyopia, unless laser surgery corrects the vision to the same strength as the strong eye AND the brain decides it wants to look through both together.

Looks like we are both in the same boat. Good luck on your enquiries. If you get any positive news, I'd appreciate an e-mail. I see you dont have yours up though.

W.

[FireDragon]

Try the following - it appears to be working for me:

In your weak amblyopic eye, have a contact lense fitted, BUT initially, don't try and attain 6/6 vision, but have a weaker prescription instead - this will obviously improve they eyes' vision, but MAY help your brain to 'learn' to use the two eyes together, to achieve binocularity.

If this works, you can then try and upgrade the contact lense to a stronger prescription, but bear in mind that if the unequal refractive error is severe, you may experience diplopia, (double vision), due to the perceived size of objects viewed. (An eye with corrected vision can see objects smaller, so this may not be compatible when it comes to working in unison with your other eye to achieve binocular vision).

Best of luck - this problem is a pain in the a*** at the best of times

FD

[wingnaprayer]

Thanks FD...so there's hope...have you passed a class 1? Did you fail before trying your suggestion?

wingnaprayer

[FireDragon]

Wingnaprayer

Your problem may be that your GOOD eye surpasses 20/20 (6/6) vision - ask your optician/optometrist what vision it actually obtains. If indeed it IS better than 6/6, then try one of the following:

Get your bad eye corrected not to 6/6, but to match your other eye, and see if your brain can 'fuse' the vision to achieve binocularity. Or, wear a +lense in the good eye to bring it DOWN to 6/6, and the appropriate refraction in the other eye.

I can't quite remember the unequal refraction limits given by the CAA, so firstly, make sure that your CORRECTED vision does not exceed these.

As to the question of my having obtained a class 1 - not yet, but I'm due to have one shortly, I've already ascertained that my unequal refractive errors don't go over the limits, (few months ago).

Again, if both the above do not work, try the weaker contact lense, and build up; its' not such a shock to the brain, but MAY kickstart it into recognising vision from your weak eye, and lead to binocularity, IF your amblyopia is of the type that can ultimately be corrected.

Best of luck

FD (apologies for the long post)

[wingnaprayer]

Thanks!!!