LASIK (General Discussion)

[AlexEvans]

Nice try

Thanks for that. I was curious about those lenses myself.

Is it back to plan A (LASIK) for you now?

I've booked (yet another) LASIK consultation for June 12th, with surgery sure to follow soon after. I know the surgeon will treat me in this case because he has already examined my eyes. I'll let you know how I get on.

[AlexEvans]

I'm no expert, but I have personal experience in this area.

If I HAD to answer yes/no I would answer 'yes', but it really isn't as simple as that.

You should read the 'why no lasik in aviation' thread (towards the bottom) and look at the 'vision other than colour vision' thread on page 2 for lots of relevant information.

[AlexEvans]

Originally Posted by bebe188

YES or NO

I learned yesterday that LASIK is accepted only if your astigmatism level, before this procedure, was less than the allowed by ICAO .
Isn't it a bit ( i don't want to use the words stupid, idiotic....) weird?

Hi. Can you explain exactly what you mean by this please? How many dioptres of astigmatism are allowed pre-LASIK? Thanks.

[Jimmy The Big Greek]

bebe188 you are wrong.


I am pretty sure that the maximum pre op value is 5 diopters of astigmatism.

[Fair_Weather_Flyer]

The way it's supposed to work is that if your astigmaitism, pre-surgery was outside of Class 1 limits (3.0D) they would not grant you a medical post surgery. Simple............except that in my case I was outside of the pre-surgery limits and after much head scratching they let me in anyway. It's a leap of faith. First you have to have the surgery and THEN convince them you are fit.

[waterpau]

Is it back to plan A (LASIK) for you now?

We'll have to wait and see. The only thing holding me back is the astigmatism in my left eye. In August 2005 it was measured at -3.25D, but a couple of weeks ago it was down to -2.5D. It seems as though I'm back within the limits for a deviated class 1, but I gather that to get one of those your eyes need to have been fairly stable for the last three years. I've gleaned this from pprune, not the CAA. I'm waiting for a response as to whether they would consider me for a deviation, but I can only guess that they won't be happy with a 0.75D swing in 9 months. The optometrist couldn't explain the large swing, but he checked and double checked and the current prescription is definitely correct...

If that's no good, then I will consider options with LASIK.

Alexevans - would be good to hear how you get on, both with the surgery (if you definitely go for it) and the CAA...

waterpau

[AlR]

Ortho-K

I started Ortho-K in 1974. CRT in 2004. Both work great for me and allowed me to drop FAA waiver and get Class One Med. Each has it's limitations, but was an advantage when considering Glasses. I'm researching Lasik in the States and finding quite a few Pro-Pilots who have successfully returned to work after Lasik. Not quite ready to go for it yet. But soon.

[TwinAisle]

Something about laser surgery which may or may not be true....

My optician (who I appreciate has a vested interest in these things) made the following point. He said that most people get longer sighted as they get older, and the typical eyesight deficiency in the young is short sightedness. He suggested that what laser surgery does is "move the datum" point. That is, in my case, my worst eyetest gave me -1.5 in both eyes, when I was 22. I'm now 38, and have hit -1.0 in both eyes, and he expects me to be at zero by about 44, then I drift off into the long sightedness of old age, and I should get (worst case) to about +2 by the time I push up the daisies. BUT - if I had had my eyesight lasered to zero when I was at -1.5, my worst case would have been 1.5+2=3.5 - rather worse....

As I say, he is an optician, and has a vested interest in keeping me in contact lenses and solutions for the foreseeable future. But an interesting viewpoint (scuse the pun) anyway.

[Lou Scannon]

I have just been for assessment and I have the procedure next month. Interestingly, as I have good near sight but my long sight is downgraded by myopia and astigmatism, they will just zap my right eye. That way my left will take charge for reading and my right for distant work.

When I tried it with a corrective lens on the right eye it seemed to work just fine.

[PhilM]

Lou, one thing to watch when having one eye zapped if your are wanting to obtain or retain a Class1 medical is the prescription between both eyes must be relativly balanced! (Within 2D if i recall?)

I have had sucessful LASIK, and today my prescription stands at -0.5D in both eyes, however only one retains enough corneal thickness for an enhancement to be possible, I have decided against that for now anyway, as it would unbalance my eyes and may mess up my chances of Class1 (if there are any!).

Something to think about....

[Lou Scannon]

Thanks PhilM, omitted to mention that my class one days are all behind me and the only thing I use the eyeballs for these days are excitements such as reading, television and driving.

I have decided to go ahead on the recent recommendations of NICE, an organisation that I have more than a passing acquaintance with.(There is a life after flying!).

Assuming that I can still see the screen clearly I will report back at the end of July!

[L'aviateur]

For people who are already well within limits and already have a Class One but wish to take laser surgery simply to remove the need for spectacles or contact lenses, does anybody know the procedure with the CAA? How long you will lose your medical for? Whether you can get a Class 2 in the meantime?
Has anyone done this?

Any advice appreciated;

[Roger Willco]

LASIK and AEROBATICS

would like to know if is dangerous for the eye that had sufered a LASIK procedure to perform aerobatic flying (someone told me something about the corneal flap and thikness)
Do you know someone that had lasik and fly aerobatics??
Is Better not to operate and fly with glases or contants??
In your opinion which one is the best method..
THANKS

[kluge]

Yes - I've had LASIK and still fly aerobatics - although not as regular as I used to as I'm living in a non GA freindly country at present. So far no problems.

However 12 years ago when I was flying hard aerobatics (+6 -4) type stuff I did suffer an injury by flying outside loops. Basically I burst a blood vessel in my right eye. Up shot was I was grounded for about six weeks. Vision came back fully but I have lost around 10% peripheral vision in right eye. When tired I see a small arc from 10 to 11 o'clock which I am told is scarring from the damage. This was approx 9 yrs before LASIK - my vision then was about -ve 1.25 in both eyes corrected with contacts

AMD also recommended no more -ve g and go easy on the +ve. Bang went the competition career. Thus I now fly gentleman's aerobatics - much more graceful and at one with the energy. aahhh.

Eye specialist told me that burst retinal blood vessels was the most common incident in bungee jumping. Another reason not to do such zero survivability option stuff.

Would recommend you give it at least six months after LASIK before aeros. However that's my opinion and not based on any medical advice.

K

[AlexEvans]

Originally Posted by L'aviateur

For people who are already well within limits and already have a Class One but wish to take laser surgery simply to remove the need for spectacles or contact lenses, does anybody know the procedure with the CAA? How long you will lose your medical for? Whether you can get a Class 2 in the meantime?
Has anyone done this?

Any advice appreciated;

Hi. I believe for initial issue of a class 1 you need to wait 3 months after the procedure before attending aviation house. Not sure about class 2 or what the policy is for exisiting holders of either, you'll have to ask them.

If you are within the limits already and especially if you're already making your living from flying IMO you'd be mad to risk having LASIK because there are significant risks. 1 in 20 chance of permanent corneal haze = will never fly again in the pointy end. There are other risks too such as infection. Are you sure you are prepared to take the risk?

I'd only ever consider LASIK if it was the only way to become within the limits, not for aesthetic reasons.

[kelle]

Lasik

Originally Posted by L'aviateur

For people who are already well within limits and already have a Class One but wish to take laser surgery simply to remove the need for spectacles or contact lenses, does anybody know the procedure with the CAA? How long you will lose your medical for? Whether you can get a Class 2 in the meantime?
Has anyone done this?

Any advice appreciated;

Hello L'aviateur,

I don't know the exact procedure with the CAA, but I can tell you how
the procedure works in Germany at the LBA. I'm in the same situation as you, I've a Class one, I'm well within the limits, but I consider to have a Lasik to remove the need for glasses. In Germany, you're unfit for minimal 6 months. In GB, I think, it's 3 months.
You can find a lot of Lasik on the CAA page www.caa.co.uk.
Simply type in Lasik in the search field on the top of the right side.
Look at CAA Paper 2001/4, Point 9 "Conclusions": "...PRK and Lasik appear
to be safe for use in commercial aviation, ... ."
At my medical, the eye specialist told me, in general it's no problem to
recertificate you, when an experienced doctor with modern equipment performs the surgery.

[Lou Scannon]

Well, had the right eye done yesterday. It is already at level 20/20 but slightly blurry which seems to be clearing by the hour.

My unchanged left eye is being used to type this and my newly re-ground right one is used when I look out of the window.

I can even see teletext from the far end of the room now!: