Right 4th Nerve Palsy
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Join Date: Jan 2005
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Right 4th Nerve Palsy
Just a quick eye question.
Last autumn I was planning on starting my flight training by enrolling on an integrated course. In preparation for this I took my Initial Class 1 medical at Gatwick and failed it on an eye problem, diagnosed as a Right 4th Nerve Palsy. It was pointed out to me that the effect of this condition is a fringe of double vision in the upper left extremity of my sight – something I had never noticed before.
After further tests (MRI & Opthamologist) it was decided that it is probably something I have had since birth, and that surgery would improve it significantly, if not clear it up all together.
Whilst mulling over surgery I had the idea to change pace and go to the US to get my PPL, as I am desperate to get flying. Could anyone tell me if I would pass the FAA Class 3 medical with this condition, or if I would need to get the correcting surgery first?
I am keen to get the PPL without surgery, as I want to see if flying is for me before taking any surgical risks, however minimal they are.
Many thanks
Last autumn I was planning on starting my flight training by enrolling on an integrated course. In preparation for this I took my Initial Class 1 medical at Gatwick and failed it on an eye problem, diagnosed as a Right 4th Nerve Palsy. It was pointed out to me that the effect of this condition is a fringe of double vision in the upper left extremity of my sight – something I had never noticed before.
After further tests (MRI & Opthamologist) it was decided that it is probably something I have had since birth, and that surgery would improve it significantly, if not clear it up all together.
Whilst mulling over surgery I had the idea to change pace and go to the US to get my PPL, as I am desperate to get flying. Could anyone tell me if I would pass the FAA Class 3 medical with this condition, or if I would need to get the correcting surgery first?
I am keen to get the PPL without surgery, as I want to see if flying is for me before taking any surgical risks, however minimal they are.
Many thanks
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Well, nobody has answered so here goes....
So you have been failed for having a problem that gives you double vision, but you never knew you had double vision, and nobody had caught this before? You have binocular vision- both eyes work? That's really tough, I have to say the doc gave you a very thorough exam.
So, given this doesn't affect you in your normal life, if it was me I'd be a bit wary of letting a surgeon loose on my eye. Surgeons can be extremely good but it's still a bit of a crap shoot and you might end up with double vision that you never had before.
Re a FAA class 3 medical, I suspect your average AME wouldn't catch this in a class 3 setting, and if he did he wouldn't bother too much. If he did bother you could have it waivered, plenty of people flying planes in the US with only one eye.
Of course you would now have to declare this on your FAA class 3 medical application, and I'm sure if the AME has any medical students around you will be the subject of much teaching.
So you have been failed for having a problem that gives you double vision, but you never knew you had double vision, and nobody had caught this before? You have binocular vision- both eyes work? That's really tough, I have to say the doc gave you a very thorough exam.
So, given this doesn't affect you in your normal life, if it was me I'd be a bit wary of letting a surgeon loose on my eye. Surgeons can be extremely good but it's still a bit of a crap shoot and you might end up with double vision that you never had before.
Re a FAA class 3 medical, I suspect your average AME wouldn't catch this in a class 3 setting, and if he did he wouldn't bother too much. If he did bother you could have it waivered, plenty of people flying planes in the US with only one eye.
Of course you would now have to declare this on your FAA class 3 medical application, and I'm sure if the AME has any medical students around you will be the subject of much teaching.
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Thanks for that S_S
Yeah I have almost perfect binocular vision, with double vision only kicking in when I move my eyes up to the extreme top-left of my gaze.
The Doctors and specialists at Gatwick spent almost an hour testing my eyes - I feel very unlucky. I'm kicking myself now for going for a Class 1 as it would not have been detected in a Class 2.
Do you know how I would go about getting it waivered from an FAA AME?
Yeah I have almost perfect binocular vision, with double vision only kicking in when I move my eyes up to the extreme top-left of my gaze.
The Doctors and specialists at Gatwick spent almost an hour testing my eyes - I feel very unlucky. I'm kicking myself now for going for a Class 1 as it would not have been detected in a Class 2.
Do you know how I would go about getting it waivered from an FAA AME?
