777-Aviator

Anyone here have been through this situation on renewal/revalidation of UK class 1 medicals? One eye is for example 6/12 uncorrectable to the minimum 6/9, but both eyes are still 6/6? Does that directly mean loss of license?

I know they are currently reviewing the guidelines for mono-ocular pilots or those with substandard vision in one eye, but how would such situation be dealt with for the time being? Any experience with that or heard of a similar case?

Thanks.

Jerry Lee

This is from JAR Class 1 Eye requirements.
"...if you have had refractive surgery, Class 1 certification will be considered three months after a LASIK procedure..."
"Certification can be considered six months after LASEK/PRK for myopia".

Does it mean that after a refractive surgery I will be grounded for a period from 3 to 6 months or what?

Teejman

I need glasses to read maps etc. I know I could get tortoiseshell glasses but what if I want to wear sunglasses? Does anyone know if you can get made a combination of both? Anybody else have this problem?

Thanks

dan_vector

Hi Guys,

I'm in the beginning stages of my PPL(A) licence and have just been to my Class 2 Medical.

I passed all elements of the medical with flying colours except for one part of the vision assessment . As I wear spectacles and have astigmatism.

My Prescription shows that I have a 3.50 astigmatism (cylinder) in my left eye which is fully correctable (and has not changed in over 10 years). My right eye is within limits with or without correction. I was informed by the AME that the limit for Class 2 is 3.00 for astigmatic applicants. My corrected vision is 6/5 both eyes.

She did not issue the Class 2 and referred the application to the CAA for further investigation.

My question is guys do you think the CAA will issue me with a Class 2 to allow me to continue flying and obtain a PPL(A). I have no intention (!) of continuing to CPL etc which requires a Class 1 as I am clearly well outside of the Class 1 limit (and have accepted that..)

I will be extemely disappointed to not be granted a class 2.... so any good news will be greatly recieved

Regards,
Dan.

NDW

Good Evening one and all,

I'm hoping somebody may be able to help me out.

Recently I had an eye examination and it stated that 6/24 was acceptable Uncorrected but if worse than 6/24 it had to be corrected to 6/6.

I was given the following results, My left eye was 6/5 & my left eye was 6/7.

So I'm wondering what the 6/24 means, is that the highest you can go to before you are classed as visually unfit for flying?

Thanks all

NDW

dan_vector

Good Afternoon guys...

I've just had my initial Class 2 which unfortunately I failed on one part of the vision requirements and the application was deferred to the AMS for consideration (deviation?).

Unfortunately it appears that I have a -3.5 astigmatism in my left eye which is just outside the Class 2 limit of -3.0 for initial medicals. My right eye is well within limits. (although I would've passed if it were a renewal!)

Corrected I can see perfectly well with either eye or both together giving a 6/6 left eye and 6/5 right eye (corrected) and both at 6/5 (corrected).

Do you think that the CAA will issue the Class 2 after all (I'm guessing with a spectacles required exception or similar)???

I'd like to put my mind at rest and continue training as I am really panicing about this at the moment that I won't get the class 2 and will be unable to achieve my childhood dream. I have considered the NPPL but would really like to fly aboard and add night ratings etc in the future.

Any thoughts guys?

pumuckl

I reckon you should be alright. If your vision falls within the renewal limits they'll also look at your age to see whether you would be stable or whether your eyesight is likely to get worse and make an assessment on that. You are not far over the initial limit and given you are 28, your eyesight should be stable by now so I believe there is a chance you should be alright. You might have to provide your last couple of prescriptions to see whether that is the case.

Something similar happened to me at my initial class 1 (although not in relation to astigmatism, but in relation to short sightedness) and they gave it to me as I fell within the renewal limits and was about your age, so hopefully they will issue you with your class 2. If that's the case you will have a limitation saying you'll have to use spectacles, but lots of pilots have that and it would be nothing to worry about.

Good luck.

p.

dan_vector

Thanks, I called the CAA this morning and they reckon that it will be at least 2 weeks before my application is heard by the specialist there! I have 5 hours of PPL training booked next week and am unsure if I should postpone training until I get the confirmation of the class 2 being issued?

777-Aviator

Guys, anybody here knows how would the CAA deal with substandard vision in one eye at renewal?

fra0015

Hi guys, on the CAA website I read that if you do refractive surgery, the pre-operatory state must not exceed +5/-6 dioptries. My question is how they can verify your pre-operatory state? Is there a way to overcome this stupid limitation? Many thanks and regards.

Spitoon

Presumably they can ask to see medical records.

But maybe you need to ask why it is a 'stupid limitation'.

BoeingDreamer

They ask for a report from the clinic that made your operation, they must have this.

I do agree it is a stupid rule, and most UK CAA medical agree that this is a stupid rule, however this is a problem from JAA and future EASA. And we can talk old fashioned "military" pilot in east europe for this, as they are a bit THICK on this issue, and prefer to have strict Military rules!

BoeingDreamer

SoCal App - The refractive error pre op limits are set, and it is more or less a random number for the limits.

Currently it is +5, -6, before it used to be +3/ -3.

In the USA, FAA does NOT have such restrictions, ICAO rules does not have such restrictions.

Yes there is a valid point of a limit, however the absurd part is who decides the current limits? Each case should be judged individually from case to case, and not on the basis of pre op limitation number, which does not mean one thing or the other.

UK CAA medical are very progressive in this, however the EASA is the killer. I believe if UK went it alone, they would adopt a model more similar to the FAA, sensible!
And not indoctrinated by some backward east European mentality, where pilots all had to be super humans and have military background.

I have had this conversation with several doctors + AME's, and they all without exception share the same view, and it is also from some of those that I was told who was holding EASA back from being more close to the FAA regulations.

The irony is that, a FAA licensed pilot can come into JAA airspace, and have class 1 FAA medical, but would not pass a JAA class 1 medical and vice versa!

crammy15b

He everyone,

I'm in a similar boat to many on this thread. I had laserSurgery done about 6 years ago, but my pre-op eyesight was still outside of the required limits for a class one medical.

My question is this.....
My eyes over the 6 years have changed a little and i am now about -.05 in each eye. I know this is not the most honest approach however if I elected to have eye surgery again to bring my vision back to being perfect, my pre-op documentation would show that my vision pre-op was -.05 and I would be in the requirements for a class one medical? I could show them a pre-op document stating that my eyes were -.05 and had now been corrected.

Would this work?

Thanks,

crammy15b

He everyone,

I'm in a similar boat to many on this thread in that I currenlty am not bale to pass the Class 1 medical. I had laserSurgery done about 6 years ago, but my pre-op eyesight was still outside of the required limits for a class one medical.

My question is this.....
My eyes over the 6 years have changed a little and i am now about -.05 in each eye. I know this is not the most honest approach however if I elected to have eye surgery again to bring my vision back to being perfect, my pre-op documentation would show that my vision pre-op was -.05 and I would be in the requirements for a class one medical? I could show them a pre-op document stating that my eyes were -.05 and had now been corrected.

Would this work?

Thanks,

HEATHROW DIRECTOR

Bell them and ask - they're very helpful..

Kami7709

Hey all , i have a question .
I have always had a dream of becoming a pilot but i have 1 problem .
I Have astigmatism on both of my eyes wich means that i need glasses or contact lenses.
This can be all done by laser operation .
But i know that if i get it done my eyes still might not be as perfect .
Would this straight away cross off a pilot career out of my life?

Fw44

I've seen lots of discussion about LASIK but not much about lens replacement.
I'm +2.5 for distance and a further plus 1 for reading and have worn specs and/or c/lenses for 35 years. LASIK bothers me because of the scarring/glare risk (and the 3 month flying suspension) so I'm wondering whether lens replacement (CLE) is a better answer. Presumably there's no or limited accommodation so a plastic lens would only fix the distance problem and I'd still need reading specs - is that true for both CLE and LASIK?
Any practical experiences out there?

FW

Jerry Lee

I write this message because I need only a confirm.
if I go in the USA to get a FAA CPL will I have any problems with the JAA class 1 medical once I got a CPL issued by an ICAO country (in this case USA)?
I've already sent a mail with my actual prescription to the UK CAA a month ago but they haven't answered me yet.
I exceed astigmatism in the left eye.

MagicTiger

Jerry lee - yes faa cpl will not help you, maybe If you get a thousand hours they can do something. Also caa UK are very good and try to help when they can, but soon easa will come, so try to do all before.