Procedure after laser eye surgey

[Emkay]

I obtained laser eye surgery about 5 months ago, it went really well and my eyes are now healthy and normal.

Despite already providing all my medical records from the hospital proving my health and good vision, my AME is still insisting that I come in for an examination in person. He is going to charge me for it.

I am all for following regulatory and safety procedure, but is this AME in the right to request this, and do all AMEs do this in such a situation?

I am conscious of wasting money in something that may be not be necessary.

[ChickenHouse]

Just go there. If you value your mental health, don't bother with the slightest effort to understand these things.

[Cusco]

Just do it: It will be your AME who will be signing your medical back on.

Why stir it? Life's too short.

[Mark 1]

It depends on the type of surgery and class of medical.

Have you checked the CAA guidelines (http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=2499&pagetype=90&pageid=13878)?

[7120]

Don't go. Your AME is not an Ophthalmologist and can't meaningfully examine your eyes. If he has your ophthalmic records he won't understand them.
It's a scam!

Based on your Ophthalmic records ask the CAA to make a direct decision. As they are clueless they will probably put the onus back on to you to prove you don't have any any eye problem. By comparison this is now the modus operandi of the DVLA.

You'll then have to go to your AME for an exam. He's clueless, vide supra, but will still pass you.

It's a scam, your stuffed and fleeced but at least you've passed.

[abgd]

Twoddle. An AME is not an opthalmologist but will have a some training in opthalmology and will be able to do some limited testing of vision.

I was under the impression that refractive errors could change over the few months post-op so there would also be a rationale for retesting vision, even if the initial assessments after the procedure indicated that it had worked well.

[7120]

Nope he can't carry out a meaningful examination because he hasn't got one of these:

Slit lamp - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slit_lamp)

Nor has he got any of these:

Subjective Refraction - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subjective_Refraction)

But if you know of an AME who's up to date with the literature on refractive changes following laser eye surgery let us know............otherwise you're talking.........

twoddle............sorry I mean twaddle. :hmm:

[Fly-by-Wife]

if you know of an AME who's up to date with the literature on refractive changes following laser eye surgery let us know

Oh, you mean someone like Dr. John Pitts (http://www.visioninaviation.com/john-pitts-pg-5) - I think he might qualify.

He did my last 2 Class 2 medicals.

FBW

[JDA2012]

Having had LASEK eye surgery to correct -3.25/-3.00 vision in 2003, and having obtained a Class 1 medical since then, my experience was that the CAA required a contrast test (identity which segment of the illuminated circle has been cut away) to be conducted, as night vision can be affected by such surgery.

This was for an initial medical though, and was therefore conducted at LGW with all relevant specialists present - I know not the procedure either for a Class 2 or if you get the surgery having already held a medical.

Full LGW Class 1 report here, should it be of interest:

http://www.pprune.org/medical-health/488260-class-1-medical-passed-bonus-eye-lung-tests-trip-report.html

[abgd]

@7120 - reading over the CAA guidance I don't see that the AME would necessarily need to have access to the fancy equipment themselves, though many may have access to a slit lamp (I do, though I'm neither an opthalmologist or an AME).

If you have documents to detail your uncorrected visual acuity at one point in time and that your cornea has been examined by a professional, then it's well within the capability of an AME to check your vision with a few simple aids if there's a gross change since the last measurement, this would be a trigger for further investigation. If your vision was well within specifications then why not clear you for VFR day flying?

My own experience - saw a taxi driver whose vision had apparently been recently been checked by an optometrist and pronounced 'okay' who was well outside the limits for professional driving.

At the end of the day you shouldn't be able to force anybody to sign a form - either comply with whatever seems acceptable to them, or find someone else to sign it.