How quickly can your eyes deteriorate?

[Gingerbread Man]

Hello, I am planning to go for my initial class 1 soon, as I want to be sure that I can aim for pilot training after university. I am concerned that my eyesight is getting worse, which is irritating as I used to amaze people with how well I could see. I'm not sure whether it actually is getting worse or whether it is psychosomatic.
Anyway, I want to do a class 1 as soon as possible, but I really want to be super fit before I go, and would need a few weeks to work up to that, so my question is, could those few weeks make any difference to eyesight? Can it change that quickly?
I am also under the impression that if your eyesight is fine for the initial, your eyesight can corrected to keep the class 1 later on. Is that true or have I misunderstood?

Many thanks for any help.

Ginger

[YYZ]

I also have a similar concern.
I have my class one already, but I can tell my eyes are getting worse, I am 31 & have been told not to worry as they should never get that bad my medical would be revoked, subject to no illness etc.

How true is this? I know nothing is certain in life, but what are the odds?

Sorry to join the thread with another question Gingerbread Man, But I think it is relevant as well?

YYZ

[andyhelo]

I have had mt class 1 for two years now, and im 18, so im in a good physical state and have never needed to worry about my health in such a way, regarding your comment:

I am also under the impression that if your eyesight is fine for the initial, your eyesight can corrected to keep the class 1 later on. Is that true or have I misunderstood?

I too have heard this, in my class 1 renewal, the eyesight test was very limited, reading smallprint and letters from a distance. Hope all goes well for you though!

[visibility3miles]

It depends on how and why they are deteriorating. Unfortunately, a lot of people almost automatically need a pair of reading glasses when they turn 40, as that's about the time your eyeballs become less flexible, and your ability to contract them enough to see at short distances decreases accordingly. (Unfortunately, if you are far-sighted, this problem will affect your distance vision too.)

31 seems a bit young for a sharp decrease, so see an ophthalmologist, not an optometrist.

Pprune has other threads on eyesight and vision.

Plus, if you aren't getting enough sleep, and are spending hours reading books, without any let up, that is pretty hard on your eyesight too. Take a break from the books every twenty minutes or so and look off into the distance. That will give your eyes a break.

P.S., I'm not an MD.

[slim_slag]

Gingerbread man is based in the UK where optometrists are very very knowledgeable in their field. An eye test shouldn't cost much more than £15 and you will rarely get such good value for money in the health industry, certainly cheap enough to get a second opinion. If you genuinely get a sharp decrease in visual acuity at age 31 then go down the high street and have a chat with one, they will tell you whether to go to casualty or come back for an eye test. If they find something they cannot fix with glasses they will send you to your GP.