CAN THEY TELL IF I'VE HAD CORRECTIVE EYE SURGERY?
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CAN THEY TELL IF I'VE HAD CORRECTIVE EYE SURGERY?
I have been told that I'll never become a pilot as my vision is too poor. The CAA state that your eye sight should fall within the range of +/-5 without glasses, contact lenses or corrective surgery. Unfortunately, my eyes are -7, which means that I'll never pass the medical even if I have corrective surgery as my eyes would have been -7 prior to having the surgery. But just the other week I struck-up a conversation with a guy who happened to be a pilot flying for Cathay Pacific, and he claimed that his eyes were originally -10, and that he'd had corrective surgery to improve his vision and there is no way for who ever conducts the medical to know this just as long as you wait a year before taking the medical exam. Is this true as I'm willing to go to any length to accomplish my dream.
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Firstly, don't lie. If you ever get found out then you will lose your medical, your license, your job and it would also probably consitute some kind of fraud so you'd probably goto jail.
The FAA is probably your best bet. The FAA have a much easier medical and you should be fine as long as your vision can b corrected to the proper amount.
The FAA is probably your best bet. The FAA have a much easier medical and you should be fine as long as your vision can b corrected to the proper amount.
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When I had my Class one at Gatwick, I failed initially due to my eyesight. I had to return a few days later for a specialist to then go ahead and pass me as my eyes were very slightly out of limits. However, the point is, that the specialist said initiailly, that they would happily test you after corrective eye surgery but they didnt reccommend it.
Your best bet is to ring them and see. They are very helpful.
Your best bet is to ring them and see. They are very helpful.
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Check with the CAA again. I've a PPL and was considering laser surgery so asked the AME at my renewal what the position was. He told me that the CAA would pull my medical for (I think) 2 years, but would then re-issue it on re-test.
He also told me a story about a pilot who had an old class 3 but couldn't get a class 1 because of his eyesight. He had the surgery, got an FAA class 1 and CPL/IR and was working as a pilot in the USA when he returned to the UK to revalidate his CAA PPL. Somebody noticed the stamp on his old class 3 and when he admitted to having had surgery his PPL medical was withdrawn, but he was allowed to go back to the States to work! Apparently in the USAF even the most minor visual problem is corrected with surgery before training commences. The CAA reasoning is supposedly to safeguard any immediate post operative problems, but they are supposed to be reviewing it.
If you do go ahead make sure you research it well. Although most of the operations mostly go well there are some quirks that still count as successes in the stats, for example my boss has had a successful correction but is now unable to read street signs at night.
Good luck
R5
He also told me a story about a pilot who had an old class 3 but couldn't get a class 1 because of his eyesight. He had the surgery, got an FAA class 1 and CPL/IR and was working as a pilot in the USA when he returned to the UK to revalidate his CAA PPL. Somebody noticed the stamp on his old class 3 and when he admitted to having had surgery his PPL medical was withdrawn, but he was allowed to go back to the States to work! Apparently in the USAF even the most minor visual problem is corrected with surgery before training commences. The CAA reasoning is supposedly to safeguard any immediate post operative problems, but they are supposed to be reviewing it.
If you do go ahead make sure you research it well. Although most of the operations mostly go well there are some quirks that still count as successes in the stats, for example my boss has had a successful correction but is now unable to read street signs at night.
Good luck
R5
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Hello P51 mustang,
First of all it is true!!
Here are the following problems:
First of all, you have to find a Laser-doctor who specify your myopia below 5 dp. This is not such a big deal, believe me.
The problem which now arise is your thickness of your cornea. After the laser treatment, it has to be within specific limits(about 350*10^-6m). So, what you have to check is your present thickness of your cornea and then you are able to determine if you can stay in this limit after the treatment.
Of course you declare at your medical check that you had a laser treatment, but no person on earth, except you and the Laser-doc, can ever know your previous eye shortsightedness. It is impossible for every doc to find this out.
If you have more questions please send me a pm.
Regards W.K.
First of all it is true!!
Here are the following problems:
First of all, you have to find a Laser-doctor who specify your myopia below 5 dp. This is not such a big deal, believe me.
The problem which now arise is your thickness of your cornea. After the laser treatment, it has to be within specific limits(about 350*10^-6m). So, what you have to check is your present thickness of your cornea and then you are able to determine if you can stay in this limit after the treatment.
Of course you declare at your medical check that you had a laser treatment, but no person on earth, except you and the Laser-doc, can ever know your previous eye shortsightedness. It is impossible for every doc to find this out.
If you have more questions please send me a pm.
Regards W.K.
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If you are within the limits for renewal but outside those for initial issue your best bet is to talk to the CAA and ask them for their advice.
Some on these shores have been in the same situation and managed to get a class one.
Others have flown for their PPL first and then applied and gotten the class 1 and others yet again have gone the FAA route and came back and subsequently got the class 1.
HTH
FD
Some on these shores have been in the same situation and managed to get a class one.
Others have flown for their PPL first and then applied and gotten the class 1 and others yet again have gone the FAA route and came back and subsequently got the class 1.
HTH
FD
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When I did my initial I was told they accepted it but only after holding your medical on ice for a year. I honestly don't know if this only applies if you are within limits to start with.
As far as I know any skilled optometrist will be able to tell by looking at your eyes.
Agree with everyone else - you are making a rod for your own back if you mislead the CAA - Even if you skipped past one exam - the Bi annual checks would get you at some stage.
I'm not an optician but I would question someone being corrected from -10 and still getting a medical. That is a strong prescription, certainly outwith PRK. I thought also on the LASIK borders - can anyone comment on this?
I can fully sympathise, I scraped it by the skin of my teeth and still couldn't believe that I got it.
All I can suggest is searching on the Bates method. I have never tried it but intend to when get the time.
One last thing - what age are you and how long have you been stable at -7?
Good luck
SK
As far as I know any skilled optometrist will be able to tell by looking at your eyes.
Agree with everyone else - you are making a rod for your own back if you mislead the CAA - Even if you skipped past one exam - the Bi annual checks would get you at some stage.
I'm not an optician but I would question someone being corrected from -10 and still getting a medical. That is a strong prescription, certainly outwith PRK. I thought also on the LASIK borders - can anyone comment on this?
I can fully sympathise, I scraped it by the skin of my teeth and still couldn't believe that I got it.
All I can suggest is searching on the Bates method. I have never tried it but intend to when get the time.
One last thing - what age are you and how long have you been stable at -7?
Good luck
SK
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I had LASIK surgery a few years ago and after a year I was issued with a class 1. The CAA were very helpful, I had to see the consultant ophalmologist on my first renewel to confirm that my eyesight was stable and he then signed me off so that I could go to any AME after that. My prescription was within the limits before surgery and from what I have been told they can tell if you have had it done because the surgery leaves some graining on your cornea.
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I had LASIK several years ago and despite being outside the JAA limits for astigmatism prior to surgery, they gave me the Class 1. I too was tempted to lie and at one stage had booked the medical with the intention of telling porky pies and trying my luck. I bottled out and decided that I would be better to fight my corner without resorting to lies. I gained an FAA Class 1 and to my surprise the CAA used the FAA eye evaluation form to aid their decision. Make sure any surgery is documented well. It may be possible to get the medical on a renewal if you get an FAA CPL first. The CAA are likely to give you no real idea of where you stand. They do not encourage surgery to gain your Class 1. However, I wouln't have my Class 1 if it were not for the LASIK!
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The simple answer to your question is yes they can tell.....
I'm a humble ATCO but still require a class 1 medical, I had PRK surgery when it was still in it's infancy mny moons ago, the ophthalmologist who examined me said they did a fantastic job and he could hardly tell I'd had it done.
However one thing he did say quite clearly that was if i were a pilot, I would be grounded imediately for at least 1 year pending regular reviews prior to issue / re-issue of a class 1 medical.
Things have no doubt changed in the last 10 years, however since this type of surgery is becoming more common, the pressures on the surgeons increase and pehaps the job won't be done quite as well as it was when I had mine done when this procedure was relatively new (even though it's actually more expensive now, only cost me £495 per eye).
You can't hide a surgical procedure from your medical records so don't even go down that route, talk to the CAA ophthalmologist, not the receptionist or the doctor but the ophthalmologist and see what they have to say.
I
I'm a humble ATCO but still require a class 1 medical, I had PRK surgery when it was still in it's infancy mny moons ago, the ophthalmologist who examined me said they did a fantastic job and he could hardly tell I'd had it done.
However one thing he did say quite clearly that was if i were a pilot, I would be grounded imediately for at least 1 year pending regular reviews prior to issue / re-issue of a class 1 medical.
Things have no doubt changed in the last 10 years, however since this type of surgery is becoming more common, the pressures on the surgeons increase and pehaps the job won't be done quite as well as it was when I had mine done when this procedure was relatively new (even though it's actually more expensive now, only cost me £495 per eye).
You can't hide a surgical procedure from your medical records so don't even go down that route, talk to the CAA ophthalmologist, not the receptionist or the doctor but the ophthalmologist and see what they have to say.
I
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Corrective Surgery
Hello,
I have just this second signed up to this site which i must say looks very good, i am hoping to become a career pilot and you guys certainly seem to know your stuff!
Anyway, just started to read your comments on eyesite and it jogged a memory of a TV program that a friend told me about some time ago.
It was about an american gentleman who wanted to join the USAF but had eyesite problems which were preventing him from doing so. As far as i can gather the basic gist of the program was that the guy had developed a series of lenses which were systematicially used to strain his eye's back into correct vision, obviously in a non damaging way. The general idea being that your eye's can be exercised so as improve vision. Apparently the guy did become a pilot although i'm not sure if it was in the USAF.
That is about all i know about this from a very interesting conversation with my friend. I will give him a call later and see if he can remember anymore about it. Or of course if anyone else has seen it, or heard of this please let me know i would also like to learn more.
I have just this second signed up to this site which i must say looks very good, i am hoping to become a career pilot and you guys certainly seem to know your stuff!
Anyway, just started to read your comments on eyesite and it jogged a memory of a TV program that a friend told me about some time ago.
It was about an american gentleman who wanted to join the USAF but had eyesite problems which were preventing him from doing so. As far as i can gather the basic gist of the program was that the guy had developed a series of lenses which were systematicially used to strain his eye's back into correct vision, obviously in a non damaging way. The general idea being that your eye's can be exercised so as improve vision. Apparently the guy did become a pilot although i'm not sure if it was in the USAF.
That is about all i know about this from a very interesting conversation with my friend. I will give him a call later and see if he can remember anymore about it. Or of course if anyone else has seen it, or heard of this please let me know i would also like to learn more.
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- Can it be treated
Yes, by an ophthalmic surgeon with the right equipment. Some big names use cheapo equipment to lower cost. LASIK absolutely. PRK / RK are out of the question. LASEK not preferred
Ask for a 400 Hz laser, and don't let them fool you with Q-switch, r(L)adarvision or wavefront treatment. Speed is what really counts
- Can they tell....
Yes they can, but only if exam is performed by an ophthalmic surgeon specialising in refractive surgery or specialized equipment is used. But also if an old picture turns up.....
- Can you train your eyes with corrective contactlenses
No - Bull$h*t. You can alter the shape of your cornea for some time (a day or so) but not in a very stable way if your refractive
error is more than 2 diopters
- Can I fly
Minus 10 is more than the JAA limit for class 1 medical. You will have halo's / decreased contrast sensitivity after refractive surgery. Not a good thing with commercial freight (self loading) and a few million euro worth of wings under your a$$
- How soon after treatment back in the air ?
When stable, your AME can get a recommendation from your refractive opthalmic surgeon, sometimes even after a few months you will be good to go.
CPL/IR Fly doc , self employed four stripes on Cirrus SR20 (mini A320 without request to start engine no 2 on pusback)
Yes, by an ophthalmic surgeon with the right equipment. Some big names use cheapo equipment to lower cost. LASIK absolutely. PRK / RK are out of the question. LASEK not preferred
Ask for a 400 Hz laser, and don't let them fool you with Q-switch, r(L)adarvision or wavefront treatment. Speed is what really counts
- Can they tell....
Yes they can, but only if exam is performed by an ophthalmic surgeon specialising in refractive surgery or specialized equipment is used. But also if an old picture turns up.....
- Can you train your eyes with corrective contactlenses
No - Bull$h*t. You can alter the shape of your cornea for some time (a day or so) but not in a very stable way if your refractive
error is more than 2 diopters
- Can I fly
Minus 10 is more than the JAA limit for class 1 medical. You will have halo's / decreased contrast sensitivity after refractive surgery. Not a good thing with commercial freight (self loading) and a few million euro worth of wings under your a$$
- How soon after treatment back in the air ?
When stable, your AME can get a recommendation from your refractive opthalmic surgeon, sometimes even after a few months you will be good to go.
CPL/IR Fly doc , self employed four stripes on Cirrus SR20 (mini A320 without request to start engine no 2 on pusback)
Last edited by SR20flyDoc; 9th Jul 2004 at 20:52.
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They are able to find that out with in 10 sec's. On my last medical I had to look in a small gadget with red lighted circles, that was to find out if I ever had LASIK treatment and they also made a Iris scan....
So do not even try it.............
Brgds, QTA
So do not even try it.............
Brgds, QTA
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Flight schools in the U.S.
Thankyou all for your advice. Just in case I'm not able to pass the medical could any one recommend any flight schools in the U.S as I hear the FAA are more laxed when it comes to visual exams as long as the eyesight can be corrected.
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I had Radial Keratotomy (before laser correction was approved) done on the right eye in Jan93 and the left eye July93. CAA (NZ) had me wait another year before I could get my CPL (H) validated for vision uncorrected. I then waited another 4 years before changing over to CASA (OZ) CPL (H). Yes the DAME saw my surgical vision correction and Yes my CPL medical was approved. It's now 11 years since the vision correction, and experiencing a slight decline in acuity but still managing my medical without correction. Hope this helps.
