2papabravo

Bips,

Was this for a renewal or were you going for an initial medical? If its initial, the limits are -6 dioptres. If its renewal, there shouldn't be issue as there is no upper limit.

If they indicate no other options, then I'm afraid that could be it.

2pb

Mr Grimsdale

I'm considering starting my ATPL ground exams next year and will attempt to get a class 1 medical before in order to determine if it is worthwhile investing in the ground exams and training.

My eyesight is just outside the class 1 requirements but my optician, who works at Moorfields in London, insists he knows plenty of commercial pilots with worse eyesight than me.

Can anyone offer any advice on this?

C172 Hawk XP

Vision standards are higher for the initial Class 1 than for all subsequent renewals. That's a fact.

Whether that is fair or sensible is entirely another debate !

Jetblue190

Im a little confused about how many times you can take the signal light test in the USA. Sone people have told me you can take it twice, but others have said you can only take it once and if you fail it thats it. Does anyone know for sure how many times you can take it? An correct me if im wrong, if you take the FALANT test and pass it, you have to re-take it every time you go to renew your medical.

Thanks

Mr Grimsdale

Thanks for clearing that up.
So with -5.25 in both eyes it looks like I've saved myself the cost of a class 1.

C172 Hawk XP

If you have typed the MINUS 5.25 correctly, then you are probably OK.

Look here http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/49/SRG_MED...InitialVisStds[2189].pdf

and you will see, inter alia :
But the best way by far, instead of speculating on here, is to ask your optician to contact the CAA Med Dept directly with your exact eye details. He will get a prompt, polite and thorough response.

Mr Grimsdale

Thanks for the link and tip C172 Hawk XP, much appreciated.

NurseToPilot

It has nothing to do with whether you see perfectly or not ....

Its because of the RISK of retinal detachment!

The higher the myopia the greater the risk of you suffering from a retinal detachment.

Having lasik re shapes the cornea to compensate for the myopia but it does NOT change the shape of the eye that causes the myopia in the first place...

Therefore having 20/20 vision is one thing but if you 're at 37,000 ft in the air and suffer a retinal detachment you're in serious trouble.

4eyedfreak

I'm almost in the same boat as flankerpilot. I had laser surgery 3 months ago from -7 and -5.5 to 20/20 in both eyes. Are the CAA strict on the -6 limit or is there any leeway if the corrected vision is perfect?

Thanks

NurseToPilot

CAA will treat each case on its own merit.... you MUST contact them and ask what your options are.... I did and gained my CLASS 1 in JUNE 08.

I had lasik to correct my astigmatism of -3.75 to -0.25 (CAA LIMIT ±2.00)

Please note that ASTIGMATISM is not the same as MYOPIA therefore the restrictions are different.... for example having a high astigmatism doesn't produce risk of retinal detachment which is why the myopia limit is imposed!

Hope this helps

JON

PS anybody wanting advice / my experiences of LASIK feel free to contact me I'm more than happy to share with you.

Shunter

Me, for starters. Incidentally I now have an unrestricted class 1 medical. It's a crap system with no scientific foundation whatsoever.

LeeMaxwell

Hi All,

I'm trying to reconcile JAA class 1 visual requirments with the results of my specsavers basic eyesight report.

Here are the results of the specsavers report I received today (the lady said I need glasses, but I'm sceptical as I know some are under a lot of commercial pressure when it comes to borderline cases): -

Right eye: Sph -050 Cyl -050 Axis 90
Left eye: Sph -050 Cyl -025 Axis 80


I hope to do an initial class (JAA) one medical next month. Can anyone say if I meet the requirements? Also, even if I meet JAA requirements, does anyone know if the airline's requirements are higher?

Greatly appreciated, many thanks,
Lee

gijoe

Ed,

All or most of the colours???

If Gatwick didn't need all of the colours then that is very interesting........As 2close said there are very many on here who would be interested to know that.

G

Rasco

Thanks 2close.

Confidence is back up, at least some of it. Still, I'm officially color unsafe here in Sweden.

There's one more medical clinic here in Sweden approved to do the first class 1 medical. The question has been brought up before. If I fail/pass a new exam in Sweden, will I experience any obstacles with Luftfartsstyrelsen(the Swedish Aviation Authority), since I'm already stamped as "color unsafe" in their files?

Or should I directly try doing the exams through another JAR-country and try my luck? If so, where?

flyingsheep

I am currently a holder of a UK class 1 with deviation due to my astigmatism and i am in a serious dilemma. My astigmatism is 2.50 on both eyes and I am in my early 20s, should I consider a laser surgery to make sure that my astigmatism will not exceed the limit of 3.0. And can please someone explain to me what will happen after my surgery (career wise, Will I be suspend from work for 6 months or more?)

FYI: I still haven’t started my advanced flight training, if I do have the surgery should I get it done before I start?

Mohit_C

flyingsheep, I am in the exact same condition as you with the exact worry, astigmatism 2.50, not even twenty and towards the end of doing my ATPLs, however I have a Spanish DGAC Class 1 Medical. Eventhough my myopia did increase after the initial, it is within limits for the renewal, but what does worry me is this limitation on astigmatism. I'm curious too about what to do...

bucket_and_spade

As I undertstand it, astigamatism tends to have stabilised by the early-to-mid twenties (which seems to be born out by the spread in astigmatism initial and renewal limits - only 1 dioptre. Compare this to the spread in short-long sight requirements).

I went through the Deviation route myself - I don't think it's any longer available to people.

Your absolute best bet is an email/call to the CAA themselves - you can speak to one of the eye specialists.

B&S

2close

Hi guys,

May I ask what deviation has been imposed and on what grounds?

By that, I mean what are the clinical reasons for imposition of the deviation and on what aviation safety basis?

Cheers,

2close

bucket_and_spade

2close,

The old Deviation route used to be available to those who had eyesight meeting the renewal limits but not the initial limits. The procedure for me was that I had to get a PPL and go for a Class I medical after that. I was issued a Class I (Deviation) - as expected. I then did pro training and was issued with a CPL (A). The Deviation was then removed and I now hold a bog-standard Class I medical (with a requirement for corrective lenses of course).

I'm flying for a living now and haven't really kept up with the current requirements but I think the limits were relaxed in some areas a few years ago (with the Deviation route being phased out).

B&S

steve_uniacke

Hey guys, just a quick update for those following my post.

I manged to get my Class 1 in the end after I got refractive surgery to reduce the anisometropia (difference in refraction between 2 eyes). I had to get laser eye surgery and wait 6 months, but managed to get it in the end.

Also, the squint as it was fairly minor didn't have any impact on the results.I now have a class 1 without any restrictions.

So, I guess my final thought for any of you in a similar situation or not is go get assessed and good luck with it!

Steve