RAY - Musician Pilot

Hello All,

I know that the class 1 medical in JAA/CASA/FAA or even HKCAD also accept do the 20/20 test with correction lens. (Only short sight and Astigmatism, no other eye problem)

However, I just want to know that what is the limit of short sight and Astigmatism?

Also, did the JAA/CASA/FAA accept pilot did the Corneal Refractive Technology /Orthokeratology (Non-surgery) or Implantable Contact Lens (ICL) or lasik, laser??
Accept or Not? If yes, how long around the period that the pilot need to rest after taking the above treatment?

Thank you for answering my question.

dobbin1

EASA Medical Standards are here:-

https://easa.europa.eu/agency-measur...bin%20crew.pdf

Class 1 eyesight standards are on page 24

Kengineer-130

How soon will Gatwick start testing to the new standards?

Smiless

After a year of putting my dreams of being a pilot aside and simply concentrating on my degree in Aerospace Engineering due to my eye-sight-not-fit-enough worries, I still cannot stop craving to become a pilot. I am now halfway through my degree, and I am also in position to be able to afford lessons.

But first off, I know this question comes up time after time, but I honestly do not understand a lot of the eye sight requirements, so I thought it would be best to just post my prescription:

Right
Sphere: -0.75
Cylinder: -3.50
Axis: 180
Distance acuity: 6/7.5
Near acuity: N5

Left
Sphere: -2.25
Cylinder: -3.25
Axis: 180
Distance acuity: 6/7.5
Near acuity: N5

Back vertex distance: 9mm

Could anyone be kind enough to tell me if my eyes would be ok to pass the Class 1 Medical test?

Also, would you advise on laser eye surgery? I am prepared to undergo the laser surgery if it is of benefit to a career as a pilot.

If all is well, then I am prepared to try and get my Class 1 test done as soon as possible, and start my training.

I know a lot of people would bring up the question regarding whether I understand what it is like to be a pilot etc. And to answer this beforehand, I understand the "stresses" and the lifestyle pilots undergo and have, as I have a family friend who is a recently retired captain which used to work for Cathay Pacific, and he has mentioned quite a lot regarding the lifestyle of pilots etc. Either way, I really do want to get into a career as a pilot, as it simply has been a dream of mine since a very young age. It's just that my eye-sight has always held me back...

Phororhacos

The easy answer is that your prescription as you have written it is outside published limits.

Nevertheless I think it would be worth having an up to date eye test and asking your optician to fill out the CAA eye examination form, http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/49/Ophthal...m%20MED162.pdf then submitting the lot to the CAA at Gatwick and asking in writing a) whether you have a chance of Class 1 certification as you stand, and b) if not, would refractive surgery(with all the risks involved) give you a chance.

you can look at
Guidance following eye surgery | Medical | Personal Licences and Training

and http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/1859/FinalspeccalcV6.6.xlsx

but for the sake of an eye test and a letter, I would still write to them.

FWIW It looks like you would be ok for a PPL medical but that is not the question you asked.

An0maly

If that is your best corrected acuity then I'm afraid you don't get an EASA class 1 or 2 medical as both require 6/6 binocular vision , you can however get a LAPL which is the EASA equivalent of the NPPL .

I myself am in the same boat having recently been to see the good people at Gatwick and passed all the Class 1 tests except for the basic eye chart where I scored ( 6/6 -1 ) which means I always miss 1 letter on the 6/6 line as I can't clearly differentiate between O & C , P an F , etc ) on the standard eye chart however I can see 6/5 on the HTOV chart . I was told that even though functionally there is nothing wrong with my eye sight , I fall on the wrong side of 6/6 and thats what the rule says . Also as the Snellen chart is standard , my HTOV results are meaningless , the CAA handbook of Ophthalmology says no mistakes on the standard 6/6 .

My problem can not be corrected by lenses as it is caused by Amblyopia which is a Brain-Eye dysfunction and not refractory in nature . I suggest you go see an Optheometrist to find out why your best corrected is 6/7.5 and if Laser will help or not . Otherwise , you could look in to getting an FAA PPL with a class 3 medical to get around LAPL restrictions , however with EASA rules coming down hard on foreign non commercial licenses and aircraft then it might be a bit pointless . FAA also allows you to get a license with a SODA ( medical flexibility ) , but not sure if you can get Class 1 or 2 with that and even if you could then you'd have to get a job on N-Reg .

Best of luck and hope you can be corrected to 6/6 , I myself am rather miffed at how close I am and the lack of application of common sense ...

Phororhacos

From what it says on the CAA website VA of 6/7.5 is ok for class 2, even if his binocular vision is not better than the 6/7.5 corrected stated for each eye.

Visual System GM | Medical | Personal Licences and Training

(2) in the case of class 2 medical certificates, 6/12 (0,5) or better in each eye separately and visual acuity with both eyes shall be 6/9 (0,7) or better.

An0maly

That's good to know , although is not what the AME at Gatwick told me about 2 months ago . I specifically asked that if I'm not eligible for a C1 if I could get a C2 , he said no as even that requires 6/6 binocular . Maybe its something that changed recently , if I'd known that at the time I wouldn't have cancelled all my PPL arrangements ( time off work , travel , training deposit ,.. ) .

Smiless

Thank you both Phororhacos and An0maly.
I will be getting my eyes checked over once more and then write a letter to the CAA regarding my eye-sight and whether I have any chances at all to pass the Class 1 medical (with or without refractive eye surgery).

I know the chances are slim, but it's worth a try. It's just so upsetting that everyone in my family has perfect vision, but me, the only one that has interests in flying, has the bad eye-sight.

I'll update once I've got a response from the CAA and I'll just hope for the best for now.

Thanks again.

An0maly

Be sure to ask the doctor if you can be corrected to 6/6 and if not then why , so you can include that in your letter to the CAA . Saves you going back and forth with them asking for additional reports .

Wish you all the best

Smiless

I went to see an optometrist for another eye test as well as a laser consultation. After the eye test, the optometrist said I in fact COULD see 20/20, and my glasses are too strong for my left eye, which he said wasn't good...

I am also suitable for Lasik eye surgery. I just hope that I still have a chance with the class 1 medical with my pre-op prescription. Nevertheless, I will be sending a letter/email to the CAA asking for advice regarding this issue.

I'll update when I receive a reply, and hopefully it's a good one.

schfandrew

Hi all sorry if this has already been covered

I underwent surgery as a child to correct my left lazy eye. However the problem is still here years down the line but only mild.

Does having amblyopia automatically prevent you from gaining a class 1 medical or are there limits on how severe the condition can be

Is it possible to obtain a class 2 much easier?

It would be fantastic to hear from anyone who also has this problem or knows of somebody who has.


Thank you.

GuilhasXXI

Hello everybody, lately my vision starts to get blurry with night fall. Not sure if I´m spending too much time in front of the computer or if my vision is getting worse. Should I stay away from either computer and television for a few days?
Thanks in advance

Loose rivets

I'm a pilot not a doctor.


Age? That's important.


When you say nightfall, do you mean you are actually in reduced lighting?


Have you been checked for cataracts or even just had a standard vision test?


If you splash your eyes with fresh water, do you get an instant improvement?

Is there any redness on the whites of the eyes?


Is there any sign of crusty matter around your eyes in the mornings?

GuilhasXXI

I´m 19 years old, and yes, usually in reduced lighting. I´ve done my Class 1 Medical exam, I´m an ATPL student, and strangely yes, I normally get some crust in the eyes i the morning..

Loose rivets

Get it checked out, but just a start.

Your eyesight might well be on the focus-limits for the study work young pilots have to do. Check your best focus distance on the page or monitor and check it against your usual working distance. Many hours spent on limits is very tiring.

Wearing specs was something I had to do when young, but then I didn't need them for years.

Take great care with cleanliness, especially hair and around the eyes. A residual infection should be treated right away, but anyway, resist the temptation to repeatedly rub your eyes when tired etc. Tears contain a fantastic antibiotic, but help them along by taking care.

p1fel

Posteriar Vitreous Detachement, PVD an eyesight condition which I understand is age related. It's quite possible pilots of a certain vintage with this eyesight condition, may not be completely aware they have it.

If one senses flickering at the edge of the eye during the day and flashing lights in the dark, it could be one of two things, an optical migrane or the onset of PVD and requires investigation.

Gell is likely to be coming away from the retina, the gell breaks away and floats around. It is possible tear's or hole's can occur to the retina and in extreme circumstances a Retina Detachement, with potential eyesight loss.

If this occurs it can be recoverable, provided you go immediately to an eye hospital. If an eye hospital is not available nearby, then a major hospital with an opthalmic specialist department. Even passing by an optician pop in and they will refer you there and then and call an ambulance.

I recently got PVD and the symptons are, of having an annoying fuzzy veil or lace curtain of patchy gell moving across your vision. Somewhat worse than 'floaters' which most people have at some stage anyway. The gell floates across the back of the lense making vision temporarily look fuzzy, until you blink and try and move the gell away and re focus.

I've always been of the belief age 60 is a pretty good age to hang up the headset, in fact I did it at 58 and glad I did. But to have reached today almost 61 with last eye test -0.0 Dps Left eye + 0.5 Dps Right and +2.25 for reading in both, being able to read one up from the bottom line of the eye test chart to probably still pass a class one but for PVD, would be of concern to me.

I understand most can learn to live with it and ignore its presence.

After having an in depth eye test at my optician, with drops to dilate the pupil to allow the optician to have a very good look into the eye and after having photographs taken of the retina I'm glad to say I have extremely healthy Retina's.

I could be wrong, but I think an AME might not pick up this condition unless one said something, then it could be curtains (excuse the pun) to the rest of your flying career I would suspect.

As I am retired I feel I am able to say the above. If it helps any one actively still flying, it's worth being aware of the condition.

p.s. I am not a medic if some of the above is inaccurate, this is my personal experience and opinion and should not be acted upon.

Loose rivets

Unlikely, but not impossible at 19 years old.


There is, or was, an eye surgeon in Colchester, who got a PVD in a car accident in his youth. 'The brain learns to look around it.' He did eye surgery with it like that for decades.

I however, wanted my big blob out of the way.


I've written a lot about PVD.

The operation, a vitrectomy, is not too bad, but there is a strong likelihood of a nuclear cataract forming within a few months. That really confuses the visual grey matter cos the brain tries to multi-lense around the obstructions. Very confusing. This of course requires the lens to be changed.

I would be interested to know if there's a procedure that avoids this unpleasant side effect. One American surgeon recons he lets the new fluid in, in a different place/way and stops the cataract reaction. Never heard any more about it.

B77L

Concerning eyesight, always eyesight

I was looking for BA requirements for myopia/astigmatism and their policy about eye surgery, given that I have "To be able to obtain and hold a JAA Class 1 medical and meet British Airways medical criteria".

Does anyone know something about that? Any info would be really appreciated.

fmgc

I am an airline pilot in the UK flying G registered aircraft.

I am thinking about having laser eye surgery, LASIK to be more precise. The CAA have told me that is fine but I have to have 3 months off flying after the procedure and then have an exam with their own ophthalmologist.

I would be interested to know if anybody else has had this procedure and what their experiences were especially with regards to the CAA.