JDavola

Cheers, I'm assuming you're in the U.K.?

Capn Bloggs

Australia.

Loose rivets

I'm totally perplexed. I called the hospital today and asked - 'Is there anything about this lens you haven't told me. That is, is it variable focus?'

Left the last checkup with crystal clear distance vision on the drive home. Next day I recalled I'd taken the lens out of my computer glasses, yet perfect vision at 18" It doesn't obey instant commands but it's early days.

Too much to hope. Perhaps the lens they put in is loose. Do the NHS ever put in variable lenses? I'll know on the 18th of the month when I get to see the surgeon. If he's in focus.

neilmrobinson

Hi all

I have eyesight -6.25 dipotres prescription left eye and -5.50 in my right eye.

On the CAA website it stipulates that the limit is -6.00 dipotres. It also hints that if applicants are over this limit, they may still be considered fit provided all other pathology ok.

I went to Heathrow yesterday for my Class 1 Initial Eyesight test and it's been referred to the CAA to decide. All other checks on my eyes showed them to be healthy. Considering this, and how very slight I am over prescription wise, do I stand a good chance of getting a fit declaration?

Any advice appreciated... Crossing all fingers.

neilmrobinson

Hi how did you get on as went for my Class 1 Initial this week with -5.50 and -6.25 and waiting to hear hopeful good news. All other eye tests were fine.

neilmrobinson

Any advice appreciated... waiting nervously

Maverick97

Hi guys, slightly off topic but still relevant. If an airline asks for (in this case EK) 'an unrestricted class one medical certificate', what does this actually mean? For example if you obtain a Class 1 with notes or need corrective lenses does this count as a 'restriction'?

Jazzer83

I have astigmatism in both eyes of -2.25, does that rule me out of a class 1 medical?

Nightstop

Well, in answer to my promise (in post 318) to report back about the Essilor X 4D varifocals I have to say I was very dissapointed with them. Although periferal vision was better than my previous attempt at varifocals (Essilor Comfort lenses) the non distorted field of view was limited to a very narrow vertical strip in the centre of the lens, outside of which straight lines were curved. I found that unacceptable when viewing the EFIS screens, so I have reverted to Executive style bifocals with the top section suitable for distant vision and the lower section prescribed to focus adequately at distances between 36cms and 96cms. Ideal for the aircraft type I operate and no distortion.

Lyrr3d

I’m an FAA cpl that recently moved to the UK. I plan on converting my licenses and was recently deemed unfit when I tried to get my initial class 1 medical.
This was due to failing my eye test (I have keratoconus in my right eye.) Unfortunately, I went in with my glasses that were prescribed to me years ago. I had no idea my prescription changed. After being refused, I went to an optician and they gave me a new prescription. I am now comfortably within the limits (6/5 in left eye, 6/7 in right eye) I can see better than 6/6 with both. Should I go to a consultant ophthalmologist?
Is the CAA appeals process straight forward, or will it be long and drawn out? Does the initial unfit assessment negatively affect me in a tremendous way?
Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

mattria

Hello,

I’ve seen a lot of threads on here with people panicking about their vision and worrying that they won’t pass the Class 1 Medical. I just want to clear a few things up and put some peoples minds at rest. I have just had my medical and passed it.

Try to ignore anything on the forum that states you have no hope if your over the initial limit. The CAA guidelines state that you can be assessed fit if you exceed the initial requirements, provided there’s no pathological condition. Basicallly, the eye specialist at the medical will send a report to a consultant, who will review it and sign it off if there are no issues. It then goes to the CAA to sign off.

The CAA guidelines also state you can be assessed fit if you drastically exceed the requirements and you’re going for a renewal. Again, there must be no pathological condition, and depending on how bad your refraction is, you would be required to see a specialist either every two or five years.

I have been through this and passed with no problems. Please don’t worrry if you are over the initial requirements. You are still able to obtain the Class 1.

I hope this helps some people.

Thank you

abbas786

hello, first of all my english is not very good because i recentley moved in the uk so i will try my best to explain. 3 weeks ago ive done my class 1 medical in heatrow and evreything was fine also my vision was fine no color blindness no double vison and etc. but at the end they have find a type of stabismus (exophoria) that was over the limits and i never noticed this problem in my life some people call it also "hidden squint". Than the opthometrist at heatrow says that she will send me to a specialist in gatwick, so i went to gatwick and the specialist failed me because he says that my eyes currently are fine becaouse my fusional reserve are very good to prevent Diplopia (double vision) but he didnt passed me because he thinks that i have 10-20 % chance to have double vision at the age of 45-50 when i get old but not confirmed. My heart was in pieces and still it is and he said to me to give up my dream and change my carrier in a such rude way. Being a airliner pilot is my dream from childhood and i have worked alot for achieving my goal and now when i was close to realize my dream then he said to give up my dream in just one sec. This are the worst day of my life. so want to ask you guys is there any possible way to get the certification for class one? Any opinions?
This is what I’ve been working on my whole life, I want to do whatever is possible.

galaxy flyer

Not an AME, but generally a failed, technically deferred, medical will result in you be8ng directed to a specialist and return with the specialist’s recommendation to the AME. Perhaps, there is an appeal process in the UK CAA.

421dog

I Am an AME and can tell you that, despite having more than +5 or -5 lateral phoria, from an FAA standpoint, as long as the airman doesn't exhibit diplopia on exam, the AME handbook states that the deficiency should be noted in block 60, the certificate should be issued, and the airman informed that the FAA may contact him to request additional ophthalmologic evaluation. My mentor, who has been doing firsts for >30 years tells me he has never had an airman called back to request anything additional, (including those with amblyopia so severe that they were not able to place the line on the scale to establish a degree of eso or exophoria. [the feds just say "enter 9, and note your findings in block 60"])

So, at least on this side of the pond, I think there's still some hope...

Loose rivets

Might develop in middle age!? That's outrageous. By then at the rate of change now, I'm confident there'll be surgery to get perfect/instant fusion.

They seem all too willing to end people's dreams with such minor issues. Lose an eye just after getting your licence, and you can carry on for the next 50 years.

I suppose the problem is getting the brain to accept intervention when older since it seems important to get eyes right before the age of 7. While this may be important, it's clearly not an absolute.

I was looking into the eyes of a 70 year old this week who had perfect 'lock on' in both eyes. When young she'd had an eye lying on her cheek while doing whatever it is they do. So, at least 60 year old technology.

abbas786

Thankyou so much guys btw i know FAA medical is easy to pass with exophoria unless you dont have diolopia.I have talked with a pilot who is a first officier in gulf airline hes flying currently the airbus A320, and he says me that he have exophoria aswell but worse than mine too much over the limits but when he have donr hes medical in italy they didnt count it (exophoria) as a problem.I dont know why CAA is soo Hard to pass and some of their staff are rude asswell like the specialist. My next and final chache is FAA medical but i want to cancel the fail from tge record because they failed me for no reason they don have any proof or guarantee that i can have diplopia later on in my 50s they are insecure

abbas786

and one more thing guys the specialist in gatwick have done one test for double vision with a prism glass bar who have 0-25 scale. i have done the test my eye start to giving up little bit this happen to evey one in the test and some people find double vision at the 14-17 scale level but thats normal, but the best thing is that i dont find double vision in any of the scale so than the specialist said my fusional reserve are amazing, but i dont know why he failed me it dosent make any sense on the other hand he is saying my fusional reserve are strong to prevent diplopia, my mind in the way he control my exophorua is amazing my mind keep my eyes pointing straight no one can see the deviation without some ocular machines. and on the other hand he says that maybe i have 10% chance in 100 to lose this ability later on. without any proof and he is insecure aswell. I have seen a specialist in ocular motor yesterday and he disagree completly with what the specialist in gatwick said the chanche of getting double vision according to the ocuaor motor specialist are 0. im so confused

RatherBeFlying

That was me in my early thirties. The AME noted that I would be flaring late and it did take considerable extra time to get my landings right.

Then a new optometrist prescribed prisms. I almost fell down the stairs leaving his office with the new glasses. I then made a perfect landing 3' above the runway.

Lovely landings ever since.

Make very sure your optical prescription includes prisms.

The tendency without corrective prisms is to suppress one eye which I do working close up.

Even with prisms you may unconsciously tilt your head.

It amazes me that any CAA would be so obdurate with an easily correctable condition.

421dog

Moi aussi..

galaxy flyer

They do call it the “Campaign Against Aviation”. Remember, if the flunk everyone with the slightest problem, they’ll never have explain themselves.