RMarvin86

Hello Steve,
well done with your class 1.
I've a 2.50 dioptres of astigmatism in my left eye but luckily I did take my initial examination at the age of 16 when I was under 2 dioptres.
My astigmatism is stable since 1 year and according to my ophthalmologist it should not get worse but there's even the chance to see it improving with the ageing as it's combined with hypermetropia.

Can I ask you if you reach a normal visual acuity with your lenses? With my astigmatic eye I do reach only 8-9/10 with spectacles. Some people told me it's a light ambliopia other that it's caused by the high degree of astigmatism, don't know.

steve_uniacke

RMarvin86,

At the moment I don't need correction after the LASEK.

Before I had the procedure i had -1 in the left (which i still have) and -4.5 in the right... and I had them corrected with glasses both to 6/5 vision. This wasn't enough for my initial medical.

This caused a large degree of refractive error difference between the 2 eyes. (Anisometropia) and that was in excess of 2 dioptres, so i failed my initial eye test based on that.

When it was corrected, the astigmatic component of my right eye was removed and my vision went to 6/5 in my right eye. My left remained unchanged at 6/6 with a -1 astigmatic component.

hope this answers your question.

steve

RMarvin86

Yes steve thanks for your answer.

I've always been worried about my eye condition and getting informations about other astigmatic pilot's is always of help.

RM86

Air1980

Hello All,

The best way to get any advice per your eyesight is to email the CAA at Gatwick directly. For years growing up in Blighty I had been told my eyes were too bad for the Class 1 and I should consider other careers. Well, came to the states and have had 10 years of happy flying - Capt on an E145 and now F/O on the 744. Never had a problem with passing the FAA 1st Class. With the US not looking so rosy anymore I emailed the CAA with my prescription: -5.50, -.25 each eye with a slight astigmatism in the left. Was told unequivocally that there was ' no problem' and that I should pass. Going next week and really not that concerned now, so by all means email them - otherwise you'll be a bag of nerves and will fail the blood pressure portion......!!!

Northern_Lights

Hi,

I just wanted to say that natural vision therapy has worked for me. My myopia was -5.00/-5.25 according to an eyetest last year. It's now -3.75/-4.0 according to an eyetest conducted last week.

The main thing I did was avoid wearing glasses as much as possible, and also, wearing a reduced prescription (one diopter less than my full prescription). I also did some Bates stuff (palming etc) and another set of exercises called 'power vision' exercises which helped a lot.

I think it's worth trying natural methods before going for surgery, if one has the time that is! These methods do take a fair amount of commitment and patience, but they've been effective so far for me, and I intend to continue them.

Best wishes,
Northern Lights

Neo_RS14

I must agree, eye exercises work. I started going short-sighted at 14 with many people in my family strongly myopic. But I managed to stave off having to wear them full time, and then not having to wear them at all...passing the driving sight test without them. My vision isn't perfect, but I have 20/20 apparently so I'm very pleased with that.

It is something I have to work at constantly, as with reading, and screen work, my distance vision reduces.....but relaxing the facial muslces, neck, forehead + jaw, a bit of light massage...I can increase my distance sight.

The exercises I do are focussing from left to centre, down to centre etc etc...then a couple of rotations in each direction 'around the clock', and a good firm blink or two at the end....a few times a day. It's worked for me. Check your neck, upper back posture, that can have a knock on effect on tension in the face and scalp.

C172 Hawk XP

Not very convincing, I'm afraid ! You don't actually give your age, but from other clues I'm surmising that you're still pretty young. It is a well known phenomenon that during certain phases of life, and especially in the late teens / early twenties, significant changes in visual acuity can occur (usually a move making the eyes somewhat less myopic) for absolutely no demonstrable reason whatsoever. Chances are that is all that's happening.

I do agree, however, that eye exercises can do absolutely no harm !

HVYMETLDRIVERWANNABE

GREAT THREAD! I wished I noticed this earlier... anyways I posted this in the military thread but to no avail and I read through a lot of this thread but not all so I apologize if its already been covered. I'll check my PMs as well:

Hey I just need some quick advice, I'm going through the process of getting into the Army. I'm a Commercial/Multi/Instrument rated pilot with 1400TT fixed wing looking to jump over the rotorcraft side and fly for the United States Army.

I did well on the ASVAB and the physical went well except that I failed color vision portion. I've always been able to pass the FAA first class medical because the flight surgeon always gave me a secondary test and checked my vision of colors by questioning. It has never been an issue until now...

Anyways, my question... is there any chance of me getting into WOFS? Or should I just give up now? I'd be pretty dissappointed if I can't get in, but I'd rather know now than go through the AFAST, flight physical, get letters of recommendation, etc. only to be told I'm SOL...

Northern_Lights

NeoRS14, well done on managing to stave off myopia! The exercises I learnt off the power vision book , which I find very effective, are pretty much the same as what you've described. i.e. eye movements to strengthen the outer muscles of the eye- "ocular stretching" .

The other really useful method it contains is the technique of "print pushing" ('retinal defocus') where you hold a book at the point where the letters just blur, and then practice eye movements to bring the letters into focus. It's sounds a bit weird but I find it works pretty well. The downside is that one has to do it everyday for at least half an hour to see decent improvements in vision.

Good luck everyone!

HVYMETLDRIVERWANNABE

Thanks for the reply.

I can't remember what they all actually mean is

ASVAB: AS Vocational Aptittude Battery- the entry test you take upon entering the US Military, its a major part in deciding what jobs you qualify for

AFAST: If you want to be a pilot you take this test, its a basic flight knowledge test this may be Army only

WOFS: Warrant Officer Flight School/ Warrant Officer Flight Training

SOL: Sh*t Outta Luck!

Mickey Kaye

Utter, utter rubbish

Loose rivets

I've posted on this forum about the Rivetess' attempts at improving her eyesight. She got the old, "Better Sight Without Glasses." By the time she was half way through this book...with it's quaint old English, she needed glasses.


Is it all rubbish?

What think you to the part?

I've written quite a lot on how the brain can fine tune eyesight with the Extra-ocular muscles. In my case, it backfired on me in a very unpleasant way after a lifetime of being told, "Your better than some chaps just starting." an AME. "You have fabulous eyesight." A Colchester eye surgeon. But the pain in my eyes after I suffered a double PVD, seemed unexplainable and caused me weeks of grief.

When no one was able to help me, I finally worked out that these muscles were going into spasm. Trying to focus past a load of debris in the eyes had become impossible, and the focusing logic seemed to go on full lock. I used the drug that I protest about so much, Valium, to test the theory. After weeks, 5mg of the dreaded drug switched off the spasm within 30 mins.

I have to say that I try to preach the word on this every time I can. I was days with pain killers, in a dark room for 48 hours...nothing helped, as soon as I went back to gentle use, the spasm came back. As is so often the case with things that Valium will 'cure', knowing the cause stopped the feedback loop, and I was fine. I used it a couple of more times over the next month. 15mg in all.

Back to the original 'theory'. So many people think that the cilia-like strands - that surround the lens - are muscles in their own right. The relevant muscles are wrapped round these 'strands' and work in the opposite direction to the way most people expect.

When folk try to avoid age-related long sightedness by exercise, it's as though they are attempting to push a piece of string. An exercise in futility. But is it totally impossible for the opposite improvement to be made?

Mac the Knife

Read all about it.

Eye-Related Quackery

C172 Hawk XP

Thanks for that, Mac !

After reading that, I'm now even less convinced !
I'll stick to my varifocals, thanks !

Lancelot37

Note, I'm in my 70s and do not now fly other than as pax.

A recent eye test resulted in me being told that my eye sight was below the standard required to drive a car.

The test was conducted at a branch of one of the largest spec groups in the U.K.

I was told that they could bring my eye sight to within the requirements to drive, by wearing specs.

Collected a pair for reading and a pair for driving. I've never doubted my eye sight before this test and have driven over 2,000,000 miles. I would have sold my car if I had any suspicion of a problem.

On my first venture wearing the driving glasses it was immediately noticeably that I could see better without them. Things appeared blurred in the far distance.

Wearing the reading glasses I had to sit with my eyes 4 inches from the computer instead of the (since measured) 22".

I went back to the optician today and they ordered another eye test. I was told that I did not need spec to drive and that my eye sight was close to perfect for my age. The reading lenses were changed for another pair and I can now read the computer without a problem.

A long story and what I have written is only brief summary of what went on. I was offered a full refund.

The whole point is that I could have sold my car, but where is the professionalism when it comes to eye tests for pilots?

Like any group of "experts" there can be differing outcomes.

I'll be drinking much more alcohol tonight in celebration!

SilveR5

Hello guys...

I badly need help!
This hasn't been discussed enough before...

A condition name is Exotropia (outward deviation of one eye)...no any other visual impairment except for loss of stereotepic vision.

I've read a previous a post of one user here saying that the UK CAA has assessed him as fit for class 1 medical while having the exact above description of the condition.

Can anybody confirm that Exotropia is not a JAR FCL requirement?!

I appreciate your consideration

planecrazy.eu

Does vision therapy help? I dont know!

But does it make vision worse? NO!

If you think you can see better, then you do. My optician proved this to me, when i got all stressed about not been able to see well.

So maybe you cant make your eyes better, but maybe you can make your mind work with your eyes better so you can see that bit better?

I have read loads and loads about this. 50% says its rubbish, 50% says its correct.

I have three family members who all gave up correction in early teens and all with a similar perscription as myself. By the time of early 20;s they passed the driving test without correction.

My brother had around +3.5, gave up at 12 wearing specs, at age 17 passed driving test.

Saying driving test as they check your vision by reading a plate, not scientific i know, but may go to show that specs shouldnt be the only treatment available.

I, myself have never took my specs of my face, and my vision got a little bit worse each time i went back.

Few years ago i went to wearing my glasses around 75% of the time, and now feel i can see a little better without them on, so next month when i have my 2 year check i will find out if its all in the mind.

Dont think there is a definative answer, as for all the phd's, m.d's and the likes that say its possible, there are the same ammount that says its rubbish.

My advice would be to just try the book if "you" think it may help. Its not going to do any harm, and maybe it can do some good? If you never try, you'll never know. So the few $$ for the book is worth the knowing in my opinion.

Oh, i dont sell these books by the way ;-)

PPRuNeUser0161

Guy's
have a look at this thread;

http://www.pprune.org/medical-health...unglasses.html


Very interesting.

Loose rivets

The trouble is, that all vision is in the mind, and you can train the incoming information to mean more to you. This blurs (I know!)...this blurs one's assessment of how well muscle training helps a given prescription.

Your eyes move 2 to 3 times a second, each new scene seemingly refreshing the field, and according to new research at University of Münster in Germany, you have already, in part at least, modeled the target before you lock on to the new image. This is exciting new work - only made possible by fMRI machines - and it spells out our mind's ability to modify our sight, of not totally construct it in the first place.

Similar work has shown that we turn up the contrast when we view items of high value. Well, items that the subject perceives as high value to them. So, more data might be processed when a pilot looks at an instrument panel - as apposed to a tree, or a bag of shopping for example. By this, I mean the initial image, not all the processing done to convert the picture into a flight situation.

'We' seem to be at the end of an authority chain when it comes to structuring that final image.

All this goes towards making me think that some improvement may be caused by our concentration, the nature of the subject cranking up the processing power. It is very difficult to be sure that the final model in the mind is improved entirely by an image that is being fine-tuned by willpower alone.

Loose rivets

Deleted post about searching, cos I didn't search enough m'self.