Presbyopia

[carsickpuppy]

Looking up at the overhead console the other day, damned if it wasn't a bit hard to focus on what I wanted to see, I'm about that age. Distance vision is still 20/20, but I don't 'see' my eyeballs recovering from Presbyopia.

I'm thinking about going with "Transition" tinted lens glasses with the progressive near-vision correction so as to have them on my face all the time, I'd rather not have to keep a pair of reading glasses in my pocket, switching back and forth. Anybody else try this or have some kindly advice?

[Basil]

Never flown helicopters but my jet transport experience went:
Near vision deteriorating LHS on two crew a/c (B757/767) - used reading glasses perched on nose for instruments and charts. Meant sliding specs up nose to view o/h panel. Also good for schoolmaster glances over top to amuse FOs ;)

Long vision not pin sharp but OK for landing perspective.

Went LHS on 3 crew (B747) and realised I couldn't monitor FE as required by SOP because I couldn't focus on his panel. Clearly going to be caught out by checker or, far worse, real emergency so moved to varifocals. I prefer large lenses because the required strength areas are larger. (Mrs Bas said they didn't look becoming so I asked her which design would make me most attractive to young ladies. She laughed in a derisory fashion but no further complaints.)

Using these did mean cranking my neck back to focus on the o/h panel. If that had been a requirement whilst flying on instruments, the risk of disorientation would have required me to consider trifocals but it wasn't.

I did have a pair of varifocals made with a graduated tint from clear at the bottom to fairly light sunglasses at top. They were expensive but good to use in glare.

Welcome to the club! :cool:

[carsickpuppy]

Thanks Basil, yeah they are a bit expensive and even more so if I went with the Gucci frames my first wife would like - she's the spender and I'm the saver.
I was talking to my AME's nurse and she had an Intraocular lens surgery/retrofit and couldn't be more happy with near and far vision, no glasses whatsoever. I haven't done any research on them, but I believe they're quite new yet and probably not approved.

[oldpax]

I had my eyes changed to interloculars in February this year due to cataracts.After the first one was done and we were on the way home my wife asked what I was laughing at,the colours ,the colours everything is so clear!!Yes they are good and here in Thailand about $5000.You have afollow up after two months for a tweek of laser if needed.

[carsickpuppy]

Oldpax, where in the land of smiling traffic gridlock that is Bangkok did you go for the op(If you are in BK)? Do you require readers or any other correction now?

BTW, I see the FAA can approve IOL's after a three-month post op recovery period. I'm not sure if I want anyone hacking away in there, but it is something to consider.

[japandwell]

Not too sure how this would help. I did not get progressive when I encountered Presbyopia. Progressive seemed to cause distortion in the area outside of center. This area,as I am told, is valuable to sensing motion as in distant aircraft. You may sense motion first off center as it was explained, and distortion won't help.
Your individual situation should of course be attended to by your optometrist. I am not sure if your situation will be different because you may not have problems with your distant vision. Hope this helps.

[McGoonagall]

I encountered this problem a few years ago with the onset of presbyopia. Distant vision was and still is fine. I wanted to wear a pair of varifocal lenses with a near prescription at the bottom and clear glass above. Not allowed. I then asked about bifocal with near and clear. Not allowed. All that was permitted was a pair of look over (half moon) spectacles or a full lens near vision flip up/down type of spectacle. It was not allowed to have a pair of spectacles on a neck chain to put on as required (not enough time was the reason). This was for a Class 2 CAA PPL medical. The flip up/down was the best option for me. Bit of a buggeration all round.

[dobbin1]

I encountered this problem a few years ago with the onset of presbyopia. Distant vision was and still is fine. I wanted to wear a pair of varifocal lenses with a near prescription at the bottom and clear glass above. Not allowed. I then asked about bifocal with near and clear. Not allowed. All that was permitted was a pair of look over (half moon) spectacles or a full lens near vision flip up/down type of spectacle. It was not allowed to have a pair of spectacles on a neck chain to put on as required (not enough time was the reason). This was for a Class 2 CAA PPL medical. The flip up/down was the best option for me. Bit of a buggeration all round.
Your AME does not seem to know the rules then, because the CAA clearly state that bifocals and progressive lenses are acceptable.
http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=49&pagetype=90&pageid=9245 (http://http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=49&pagetype=90&pageid=9245)

[McGoonagall]

I did question him on this and was told that bi-focal or progressive lenses between two prescription values are fine. Between a prescription for presbyopia and clear glass for distance is not allowed.