AlexEvans

I had an extended opthalmological (sp) examination in February at Gatwick. I was under the impression that LASIK was allowable but that ICL (implantable contact lens) were not. The optician there pointed out that this is not true - they treat each case on an individual basis, implication being that ICL's may be acceptable.

You could write to them/phone, or even book an extended opthalmology. Don't expect them to offer any encouragement though.

If you haven't done so already, I'd run your prescription past all of the LASIK providers. They all seem to have different treatment ranges.

Good luck.

Loose rivets

I think that when this was discussed a few months ago, it was mentioned that the lens implant was reversible. This is a major factor in making a decision I would think.

Surely, +- 6 is just outside the range for the CAA to accept the correction with LASIC? Yes or no, I would not make that bigger change to my eyesight by merely altering the front of the eye. It's never the same again.

Irishwingz

Alex/Loose Rivets

Yep I'm too far gone for Lasik and even if I met a clinic who stretched to offer me a solution I woundnt take it. Most seem to say that anything over +4.00 is not an option.

ICL (implantable contact lenses) are reversible so its more appealing to me. Having said that, I'm outside the preop limits anyway so I could go through the pain of the op (in my pocket!) and still get turned down. I'm still considering it though as flying is all I want to do.

Thanks for the continued info.

Flyin'Dutch'

Beware that even with the best ophthamologic surgeons and best materials and techniques there are complications possible. Some of which may mean that your vision deteriorates.

Reversible is not the same as popping a contact lens in and out.

Bear all of this in mind when you decide to go down this route. You don't want to get in a worse position than you are in now.

Flight my fire

Ok . FAA DOES require eso/exophoria tests for Class 1 and Class 2.
I should try to contact one FAA doctor in France and the CAA.

Jimmy The Big Greek

If it is only 3 diopters of esophoria there is nothing to worry about.
Your freind that had surgery did not have the same condition as yours.
The only thing is your prescription is a bit high but that will not be a problem for FAA medical and I don't think for JAA. I strongly recommend that you take an FAA medical exam in France and a JAA medical in the UK.
If I where you I would not worry so much about the medical instead I would worry much more about the following.
1) How are you going to finance your training without getting bankrupt.
2) How are you going to get a job.
Just to give you a taste. I graduated in 1998 with an ATPL and I have about 1600 hours of that 500 hours Multi-engine PIC.
Since then I have sent out about 2000 CV's (no kidding) and got only one interview. All my savings goes to flying and books in order to keep current and up to date.
I am 30 years old and I would really like to start a family but I need to wait for that job to come.....If I ever will get one.
Ín the situation I am right now I am not even able to have a girlfreind.
Last time I got laid was 4 years ago
If you ask me if I regret that I became a pilot the answere is....YES but it is vey hard to accept the fact that I may never get that job. All the money and effort I have put down on this, it is vey hard to just throw it away and say that I will do something else.
I would rather be a medical doctor and keep flying as a hobby.
These two problems are far more serious than your 3 diopters of esophoria or the lack of seeing stereoscopic images.

lepremier

I had "new lenses" put in both eyes just about a year ago primarily to repair cataract damage (years of sun abuse). I had mine done here in Singapore and although my licence still has a use of glasses clause, I have not had to wear them since my op.
I am very happy with the results but you must get "good" advice first.

FLEXPWR

Hi there,

Is there anyone who had laser eye surgery and flies commercially? Just a bit curious as more and more one can see TV Ads showing all different clinics offering this option.
Is there any restriction when it come to Med Class 1, or are there only designated clinincs that meet CAA/JAA approval?

Is it possible at all?

Thanks

Dirty Harry 76

Hi

Not an expert on this subject but have a friend who had this done. After the surgery he then experianced vision problems in the simulater (Dark background and bright lights). This was obviously a scare for him and had to stop flying.

He was them refered to another laser Surgeon who specialises in flight crew and after more surgery the problem was fixed fortunately for him.

Good Luck

MyData

I'm no eye surgeon but...

One of the after effects of LASIK is that your eye has to readjust to the 'new' lens and so the pupil and controlling muscles have to recalibrate for want of a better word.

This means that in the dark (or in any high contrast environment - e.g. office lighting) your pupil, at it's most extensive, may be larger / smaller than necessary to allow the 'new' lens to focus all the light on the retina and so a blurring effect can occur.

I was told this would last for about 2 weeks. At first I accepted it. I had the op in the summer so night driving was limited - and I wouldn't recommend it. For me the blurring lasted six weeks or so and I did start to get concerned that this may be permenant, then the focus at night became pin-sharp as my eye finally adjusted.

Again, not as an expert, I would expect this could be fixed if the eye was re-scanned and LASIK'd. I recall during my scanning and pre-op there was great care taken to measure the pupil at maximum dilation. I was told not to drive for 24hours after the initial eye scans as drops are put in to relax the iris. Go outside in daytime after that and everything is blindingly bright, a look in the mirror shows the iris fully open.

With regards Class I or other medicals. There are certain aspects of your prescription which are taken into consideration BEFORE your LASIK treatment so it is best to check with an AME first before proceeding as the treatment may leave you with fantastic vision but you could still fail to meet the grade due to your pre-op prescription.

wateroff

Question to all -- Has anyone had any experience/issues with the above topic and airline requirements/exam tolerances? Cathay or other majors?? Does anyone know of their di-opter limits etc??

Capetonian1

Remember that the intra-ocular lenses (IOL's) implanted in the eyes after cataract surgery (removal of the lens nucleus and cortex) are placed into the "empty" original lens capsule that surrounded the original crystaline lens in the eye.

The implantable lenses referred to in terms of refractive surgery are very different. The original crystalline lens in the eye is not removed and the implantable lens is placed inside the eye, in addition to the original lens.

The procedure and results for operations to implant IOL's for cataract surgery are well established with very good and prectable success rates. However, the procedure for lens implants for refractive surgery is still developing, and as pointed out correctly in a previous post "reversible is not the same as popping a contact lens in and out". As with any form of eye surgery, the possibility of some complications does exist.

Jimmy The Big Greek

Every year I go to the optrician to check my vision.
I have come to the conclusion that the charts are different depending on what kind of chart they use.

In my experience the wall mounted charts have generally more light than the mirror projected charts.
I am very sure that on the wall mounted charts I see about 1-2 lines better than the mirror projected.

Has anyone had similar experience?

fhchiang

hahah..... my case..

Opthalmologist official report
R: 6/24
L: 6/18
Electrically-Illuminated Chart reflected through mirror

Aviation Doctor Official Report in my Class-1
R: 6/60
L: 6/60

hahah using Snell chart pasted on wall illuminated by Daylight

Jimmy The Big Greek

UUUUH if that is your eyesight.........your blind.

I think you got the numbers mixed up.

Jimmy The Big Greek

ok, It is you uncorrected vision that is 6/60.

fhchiang

haha.. well i'm just surprised...

how come both doctor mark my Uncorrected vision so differently?

maverfick

Have had my Class 1 since '97. On the last time out my AME told me I'd need glasses to pass the next one.

The problem is; my left eye can split a hair at 200 yards but the right has, over the years, become a somewhat poorer country cousin.

Should I consult an optician prior to my next renewal, and if so do i now need two pairs of glasses and two sets of prescription sunglasses to be legal on a commercial flight deck?

On a different tangent, please would someone enlighten me as to what causes this type of offset decline?

Loose rivets

Un qualified comments only I'm afraid, but....

Age and nature of the defect would help. Are you getting more long sighted or short sighted? Is there any astigmatism?

Was there always a tendency for the poorer eye to be a little lazy? So that what is happening now is just a worsening of a long term condition.

A precise assessment of the reason that your brain is causing the other eye to be ‘dominant' is needed. Can you improve the bad eye by spending time with the good one covered up. It only takes a few moments for you visual processing to start to ‘re-map'.

There has been some good help on eyesight just lately, but anyone will need plenty of information.

maverfick

I'm early thirties.

The vision is not so much long or short as just blurry.

Afraid I have no idea what an astigmatism is, but the eye has never been described as lazy previously.