laser surgery
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 46
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From: dublin ireland
laser surgery
Hi Folks
I passed my class1 medical a few months ago and have started my ATPL's. I am shortsighted but my eyesight is within the required limits, just! Here is my question; if during the course of my training my eyes drop by a bit more during the next 2 years, and I find myself just outside the limits, what happens? Is all the time, money training and dreams out the window? Also, as I am funding my own training, will an airline accept a pilot with corrective laser surgery? I ask this because I was told a few years ago the airlines would not take on pilots who got laser surgery.They didn't yet know the long term results of laser treatment and I presume on a sponsership scheme, it was too uncertain for them to invest the money in a pilot who's eyesight might start deteriorating again. Can anyone clarify the situation for me?...no pun intended?!
Thank
KB
I passed my class1 medical a few months ago and have started my ATPL's. I am shortsighted but my eyesight is within the required limits, just! Here is my question; if during the course of my training my eyes drop by a bit more during the next 2 years, and I find myself just outside the limits, what happens? Is all the time, money training and dreams out the window? Also, as I am funding my own training, will an airline accept a pilot with corrective laser surgery? I ask this because I was told a few years ago the airlines would not take on pilots who got laser surgery.They didn't yet know the long term results of laser treatment and I presume on a sponsership scheme, it was too uncertain for them to invest the money in a pilot who's eyesight might start deteriorating again. Can anyone clarify the situation for me?...no pun intended?!
Thank
KB
Super-Friendly Aviator
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 424
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From: Reigate, UK
Hello,
Remember that the renewal limits are less strict than the initial ones - 5 dioptres is what you would have been tested to for the initial Class I whereas the renewal limit is 8 dioptres.
I've been told that eyes tend to stabilise by your late teens/early twenties...before, of course, deterioating in much later life.
At the moment I THINK the CAA will revoke your medical for a year after laser surgery and your prescription must be within limits before any eye surgery anyway.
I wouldn't worry too much,
V1R
Remember that the renewal limits are less strict than the initial ones - 5 dioptres is what you would have been tested to for the initial Class I whereas the renewal limit is 8 dioptres.
I've been told that eyes tend to stabilise by your late teens/early twenties...before, of course, deterioating in much later life.
At the moment I THINK the CAA will revoke your medical for a year after laser surgery and your prescription must be within limits before any eye surgery anyway.
I wouldn't worry too much,
V1R
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 46
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From: dublin ireland
Thanks
Cheers V1r
Laser is not something I am keen on doing unless it was an absolute necessity. I was concerned because I spend a lot of time working on the pc, like most people, and I know it doesn't help. I am 36 now and my eyes are stable, but have decreased very slightly over the past few years. It's not drastic however. I didn't know about the extended limit after initial testing. Thanks for that information.
KB
Laser is not something I am keen on doing unless it was an absolute necessity. I was concerned because I spend a lot of time working on the pc, like most people, and I know it doesn't help. I am 36 now and my eyes are stable, but have decreased very slightly over the past few years. It's not drastic however. I didn't know about the extended limit after initial testing. Thanks for that information.
KB
Super-Friendly Aviator
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 424
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From: Reigate, UK
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: dublin ireland
thanks
Thanks again for the link, V1R,
It looks like I'm ok for now. Just as a matter of interest, my eyes are respectively -3.5 and -4.00,however, the lenses on my glasses were used to determine my myopia, which was very unfair I thought, as glasses will have a stronger correction as they are sitting away from the eyes. With them on, I am slightly over corrected, so I was told that I had just been within the limits. A bit unfair but I got my medical all the same.
Thanks again for the help. My eyes are bound to suffer a great deal more staring at all the tiny dots on the MRJT planning charts!!!
KiloBravo
:
It looks like I'm ok for now. Just as a matter of interest, my eyes are respectively -3.5 and -4.00,however, the lenses on my glasses were used to determine my myopia, which was very unfair I thought, as glasses will have a stronger correction as they are sitting away from the eyes. With them on, I am slightly over corrected, so I was told that I had just been within the limits. A bit unfair but I got my medical all the same.
Thanks again for the help. My eyes are bound to suffer a great deal more staring at all the tiny dots on the MRJT planning charts!!!
KiloBravo
:
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 190
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From: Everywhere
Hey KB, I've just started on the 737, and have been wearing "corrective lenses" for many years now, but recently I too have been considering the laser option. Renewed my medical two weeks ago in Dub, and asked the Doctor what the implications were for the medical. As far as he was concerned, its come down to losing your medical fitness for only 3 months, unless a major degree of surgery was required.
So if your only doing your APTLs now, i'd look in to how much lasering is required and get it out of the way, I don't think an airline will turn you away just because of whats now becoming a standard small procedure.
Best of Luck.
S.C.
So if your only doing your APTLs now, i'd look in to how much lasering is required and get it out of the way, I don't think an airline will turn you away just because of whats now becoming a standard small procedure.
Best of Luck.
S.C.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 46
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From: dublin ireland
Hi SC,
I preume the 3months is just for a settling period for the eyes, however is your job safe if you were to have your med. revoked for that time? As you say, it may be best to take care of it now.
Good luck if you decide to do it, I am still a bit aprehensive, as it stands, I can see and I would always be a little nervous of any damage which may rule me out of flying for good. Would love to be rid of glasses and contacts for good though!!!!!!!!!
Cheers
I preume the 3months is just for a settling period for the eyes, however is your job safe if you were to have your med. revoked for that time? As you say, it may be best to take care of it now.
Good luck if you decide to do it, I am still a bit aprehensive, as it stands, I can see and I would always be a little nervous of any damage which may rule me out of flying for good. Would love to be rid of glasses and contacts for good though!!!!!!!!!
Cheers
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 139
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From: UK
Intralase
If you are considering laser surgery perhaps you should consider the equipment the clinic has, as well as the experience of the surgeon.
It was reported in the Wall Street Times recently, that US fighter pilots are being treated with an all laser surgical approach which early indications suggest enables them to get back up in the air faster and with better visual outcomes that previously possible.
see http://www.beitman.com/board.htm#wallstreet-cut
and
www.intralase.com
It was reported in the Wall Street Times recently, that US fighter pilots are being treated with an all laser surgical approach which early indications suggest enables them to get back up in the air faster and with better visual outcomes that previously possible.
see http://www.beitman.com/board.htm#wallstreet-cut
and
www.intralase.com
Super-Friendly Aviator
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
From: Reigate, UK
The future, surely, is for eye correction procedures to become even more commonplace, cheap, easy, safe and better. Along with that goes more accecptance from the regulators
Good news for us slightly vision-challenged wannabes!
V1R
Good news for us slightly vision-challenged wannabes!
V1R
Last edited by Vee One...Rotate; 19th April 2005 at 23:21.
