RMarvin86

When renewing standards are much lower! And that's my fortune as now I would NOT pass an initial but I get through renewal (due to astigmatism). I took initial at the age of 16.

When renewing you do not have dioptric limits anymore. With ageing your miopia can get worse and you will be medical fit as long as your sight remains 6/9 each eye and 6/6 using both eyes with spectacles.

If you check on the CAA medical website you will be able to find all those parameters. Again, if you're borderline now and you want to start an aviation career I think it's wise to take your initial examination as soon as possible.

Malta_Flyer

thanks for your help rmarvin. i hope i never have problems cause at the moment i'm spending all i have on getting my licences done...i probably could have bought a benz!!

Jet_A_Knight

neo rs 14

Yes they do.

KandiFloss

Im really worried about my left eye, when I look forward the vision out of the side of my left eye appears all foggy. It began on Thursday after drinking strong coffee. I got home and had a really spaced out feeling, just like if you spend too long in a room thats just been painted. I went to bed and thought that things would be ok when I woke up the next morning. When I woke up I thought that my vision was ok, but by the time I had gone downstairs the same thing had happened. I was gutted as I had to cancel my flying slot that day. I managed to get an appointment with my gp who checked my blood pressure (normal) and check for retinal damage etc, but said that she couldn't see anything and that she receommemded me to go for an eye exam that day. But appart from that she had no idea what was happening. She told me that if the condtion worsened then to go to casualty. I managed to get an eye exam done, but the optometrist said that she couldn't see anything wrong and that I had perhaps had a migraine. ( I do get them occasionally but they are never like that). When I left the opticians I felt really strange. I knew that there were people around me but it was as if they weren't really there. It seemed as though I was in a dream, really wierd. Luckily my husband was with me at the time.

I went home and had a sleep on the sofa and woke up with a migraine. I went to bed a couple of hours later. I woke up this morning initially feeling fine, but as soon as I had walked round the same symtpoms started happening ... foggy pheripheral vision in my left eye, difficulty in reading and feeling sick.

Please forgive my spelling, which is normally spot on , but im finding it hard to see.

It's really worrying because I normallly have perfect vision, and have never worn glasses. Even looking down to type is making me feel nauseus.

Has anyone ever had anything like this? Im really upset with this, not just for my current situation, but it's my dream to be able to fly professionally one day (I currently hold a Class1 medical).

Pilot DAR

Pilot Chick,

It sounds like whatever it is, has not "just gone away on it's own". I am not a doctor, though I do have some very limited medical training. Were I to be in your situation, I would be going back to the hosipal without too much delay. Perhaps the difficuly with your sight is only a symptom of something else. I hope that the doctors you have seen also have suggested this.

I hope it's nothing more than a bad migraine, and leaves you shortly, but go and be sure...

Pilot DAR

KandiFloss

Thanks for your reply PilotDar,

Im waiting for my husband to get home and i'll ask him to take me to hospital.

KandiFloss

Just got back from casualty. Saw a doctor who examined me and thinks that it is just a migraine? Maybe it is, but i've never had a migraine like this one ever. I'm going to keep monitoring it and i'll be back to the hospital if it hasn't improved.

Loose rivets

I'm a pilot, not a doctor, but I've written pages of stuff about classical migraine over the years. Search -- Loose rivets -- migraine -- Anytime (top of timescale list) -- and pick this forum at the bottom right.

First and foremost, is the visual disturbance definitely one eye or in both eyes? ( Edited.)

I ask you to be sure because sometimes, because of the way some information does not cross to the other hemisphere of your brain, it is surprisingly difficult to be tell if it is not some sort of overlap.

Don't panic, because so many people have an episode like this, but nevertheless, my feeling is that you should get an appointment to see an ophthalmic surgeon.

One told me that he sees many late onset migraine suffers, who have no idea what's going on. Often patients have never had anything like it in their lives before. Anyway, first things first: Is the disturbance in both eyes despite being in the left of your visual field? (Edited)

If it's still bad, monitor your temperature like a hawk. Report any significant rise quickly, and make sure they are informed or reminded of the entire problem to date. (Edited)

Sacky

So it does indeed appear that CASA offers a practical light signal test, has anyone ever done this before and what were your experiences?

TelBoy

I did the tower signal test in the US many years ago - and passed. Taken at two points on the airport 1000 yards and 1500 yards. Seemed easy enough, but I cannot pass any JAA test, so unrestricted FAA medical and restricted CAA medical.I think someone from Oz posted in this thread once about a tower signal test and said it was only taken at 200 metres. Take time to read the whole thread and see what he had to say.Good luck mate.

'India-Mike

Get a cheap flight to Glasgow and have it done at Glasgow Caledonian University

Academic Staff: Vision Sciences: Life Sciences: Glasgow Caledonian University

Ask for Prof. Heron. He saw my son within 24 hours of his class 2 initial and by the end of the week the results were with Gatwick and an unrestricted medical issued.

Good luck whatever you chose.

TelBoy

Are the CAA "delaying" due to the CAD test being almost here?

FlyEJF

Hmm interesting Telboy. I got the feeling that i was being fobbed off this morning, which is why I posted. The response I got this morning seemed different to those that I got before. What is this new test?

Ed

KandiFloss

Still having problems. Went to see my GP yesterday who thinks that it's a complex migraine. I've been refered to see a neurologist on friday.

I'll post what happens.

Im just stressing (i've been told not to do this) as I can't even drive let alone even think about flying (for fun), i'll be devasted if this stops me flying long term.

Loose rivets

Hello again, sorry to hear you're still having problems. A neurologist is good, but the only reason I mentioned an ophthalmic surgeon, is because they get so many people going to see them with their first episode of migraine. They get very good at knowing what's going on.

Although some senior doctors might order an MRI and look further themselves, others will often refer to a neurologist anyway.

Some people have visual disturbances lasting for weeks. They often become 'diluted' so that they are little more than a slight nuisance. An example might be that you have not been thinking about it while looking round at general scenery, but then you look at a face. The eyes seem normal but the mouth could be anything from vague to blotted out completely.

It has occurred to me that while the brain can often fill out missing areas, faces are a much more 'labor intensive' area for the brain. It is an image formed in circuits that cannot be fooled. The danger is, that the filled out areas may not contain vital information, like a car approaching from a certain point. Take care to be completely well again before driving.

Someone I know spent 18 months trailing from one specialist to another, checked for MS etc etc.. While out with them they would spend time covering one eye and or staring at my face...whatever, they were totally taken over by the symptoms. Despite this, they had the good fortune to get a good job and the change in lifestyle transformed them. A while later, they commented that their eyesight had never been better.

Good luck, and do keep us posted.

Neo_RS14

Does anyone know if they're any closer to getting this CAD in? Wonder how it's been received by the relevant parties.

TelBoy

I did the CAD at the CAA in May this year - oh yes! They told me they would keep my results on file until it was certified and then tell me if I passed or failed. At that time they were expecting it to be about 6 months, which would take us to Novemeber. That seems a real possibility considering what has happened. As for service on the lanterns, I did a freedom of information request on the CAA. The Beyne had a new bulb a few years back, but guess what - the Holmes Wright has had no maintanace for about 20 years. Why not do an FOI yourself, it's free and your right!!

Neo_RS14

Interesting. But if it's certified, it will be published on their website won't it? They can't just bring it in and not tell anyone surely?

Plus then there is the issue of whether it will be JAA-wide....Are all JAA states going to suddenly adopt the CAD in a months time?? It seems pretty unfair to just use the CAD for UK applicants, but our Continental brothers and sisters get to carry on with the former tests....hmm....it was never the fairest of games anyhow, so I wouldn't be surprised I suppose.

flyboyweeksy

I'll try not to rant on this one, but just curious to see whether anyone else has had the same problem and tosee your views...

I went for a Class 1 medical in January of this year. I did not gain my Class 1 for the reasons that when I was younger, I had astigmatism in my right eye and subsequently was corrected as much as possible without surgery. I have glasses and my left eye is 20/20. Now the dilemma is: if I had had my PPL, they would've issued my Class 1 there and then (with my eyes in the state they are). However, I don't have my PPL... yet. Does anyone else find this strange/stupid or is it me no understanding the logic?So they are willing to issue a Class 1 with my eyes as they are with a PPL but not willing to issue it at this time. Does it matter that you have a license but still have non-20/20 vision....

Forgot to mention, I don't need to wear my glasses day to day only when Im using the computer for long periods, otherwise I can see clearly. But obviously have glasses to help my stronger eye, so its not weakened.

TelBoy

The CAA will put details on their website as and when the CAD is accepted. I think they are holding out to get ICAO approval so that it is used in ALL ICAO states. In May they already had the equipment, and indeed their own pass criteria, but would not say what it was in case it had to be changed!! If indeed they wanted it as a UK only test it could have been done a long time ago. Good if you pass as any ICAO state should accept the test results. The CAA told me that it was planned for them to accept any other ICAO states results (of their CAD test!!). I still do not think the test is appropriate for pilot testing - let it be done in the real world and those that can will and those that can't won't - simple!!