Canuckbirdstrike

I had traumatic damage to my right eye in 1992 from a piece of metal. The piece was removed and damage repaired. Six days later I had an intraocular implant put in. 30 days later the sight in that eye was 20/40 and two months later it was 20/25 and has stayed like that. Despite a slightly damaged iris, I have no halos etc and the eyesight in the damaged eye is now better than the undamaged one. It took 4 months to get a restricted medical back and then after one year I was given full Class 1 medical with no restrictions other than an ophthalmologists report annually. After 21 years I still have a Class 1 medical and still fly for an airline.

The whole business of getting your medical is proving the net risk. In my case it was getting the doctors to see that my worst case scenario in the event of a problem I would be monocular, something that is allowable for airline pilots in many jurisdictions.

TizerTheAppetizer

Canuckbirdstrike

Thank you for your reply. That does give me hope.

Are you 20/25 uncorrected but can get better visual acuity corrected?

Either way, there is hope and I'm glad the doctors and civil aviation authorities can be sensible about these things. I hope that's the case with the CAA as well.

Canuckbirdstrike

Yes my vision is 20/20 corrected. As a matter of fact until 2007 I did not require any correction to my vision to maintain a Class 1 medical.

The challenge we face as pilots are the inconsistent standards between countries. In many jurisdictions I cannot hold a Class 1.

The best event I had was having a medical and the double take the doctor did after I did the eye test and then he actually looked at my eye and noticed the misshapen iris......

TizerTheAppetizer

Oh well, if the CAA at Gatwick don't give me a Class 1, I'll come and try and get one in Canada. They obviously have more sense about these things in North America.

Beautiful country, I've been across it by train, I'd love to live there. People are so friendly.

And the beer ... Moosehead, Labbatt's ... unbelievable.

jollyrodger

Yet another eyesight post…apologies!

Had my Class 1 revalidation this week, all ok thankfully. At the end my AME said the CAA (UK) system had flagged up that I need to get an Ophthalmology Exam done at an opticians. I've never had a problem with my eyes, was a little surprised that I need to visit an opticians even though I seemingly passed the eye exam.

Anyone else had something similar? Slightly concerned the AME may have spotted something and this is his subtle way of getting it checked without worrying me!

Scottish.CPL

Possibly due to the prescription strength!!

Capn Bloggs

You need "occupational bifocals". I've had them for years and work well.

Occupational Bifocals and Trifocals for Presbyopia - AllAboutVision.com

The top and bottom bits are the same, for reading (and overhead panels) and the middle bit for distance.

These are not individual bits of glass stuck together; the three sections are machined out of the same piece. The price isn't too bad either.

tlc456

Hi everyone,
i have read in the CTC Wings website that one of he entry requirements for the Airline Pilot Cadet Programme is to be able to obtain an EASA Class 1 medical without restrictions. What does that mean? I have myopia, can this be a drawback getting a Class 1 medical?

Thanks in advance.

kt3186556

hello guys, i recently got ICL (implantable contact lens) done for my eyes. My prescription before operation was -10.00 in both eyes. Post operation i have 6/6 for both my eyes. my eyes are perfect now with no problem of glare in day and night.

would i be eligible for class 1 or class 2 medical certificate?

any information would be helpfull.

thank you

Reely340

As of 8.4.2013 EU-Reg 1178/2011 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-conte...=1397930709721
is the sole source for FCL requirements.

Section MED.B.070 specifies the eyesight limits for obtaining a medical of class 1, as certain "distant visual acuity" limits with or without correction.

The whole document lacks any reference to max. uncorrected myoptic dioptres (as did the old JAR FCL 3.xxx, -6/+5 dioptres)

Is it therefore correct, that even with say -10 dioptres (myoptic) one can be assigen a class 1 medical as long as his "distant visual acuity" is at least 0.7 per single eye and at least 1.0 with both eyes?

If not where do I find the mandated Part-MED (post April 8th,2013) dioptre limits?

CoolingThunder

Hi all,
Last year I got my class 1 in Belgium to start my ATPL. I got it without too much problems (except an extra colourvision test) and there is also a mark "VDL" on it, probably referring to the fact that I need glasses because my left eye is nearsighted. Today I went to the optician to get those glasses since my revalidation has to be done soon. Note that I see perfectly with both eyes, it's just the left that has -2.25 for correction. Now I found those values to be quite high, so I looked at EASA PART-MED, and there I found that the max difference is 2 dioptres (ico anisometropia) result: I'm quite scared now to lose my licence because of this, thereby rendering all my hard work (and dream) useless. Now it does say that you can have more if it is checked every 5 years, but I wonder why they didn't tell me this on my initial examination. Are these concerns justified or not?
I'm quite anxious about it now!

The Cleaner

I have a difference of 2.50 between my eyes, it is max 2.00 for initial ( which I got via deviation route) but for renewal it is a higher limit, not sure what it is without checking. Suffice to say I still have passed several revalidations without a problem.

CoolingThunder

Thanks for the answer, thing is, last year I had -1.50 or -1.75 (can't remember correctly anymore) so I was 'safe', now with my recheck I will have gone out of these limits by half a point in a bit more than a year (which I would contribute to a bit of eye strain due to some fatigue, and loooong time spent behind the books everyday, staring at books for a long time can also hurt your eyes. The fact that I went out of the -2 and then immediately a decrease of -0.5 dioptres is what's worrying me now... Anyway, this is already giving me some good hope.

TSLexi

Hi guys!

I'm about to start flight school. I have a class 3 medical certificate, as right now I only want to pursue a PPL and IR.

I have anisometropic amblyopia due to retinopathy of prematurity in my right eye. My left eye BCVA is 20/20, while my right eye's BCVA is 20/40. But due to my amblyopia, I effectively only use my left eye to see.

Hopefully at the same time I do my PPL checkride I can also do the MFT for the SODA to upgrade my medical certificate.

So here's an interesting question: why does the FAA even care about distance vision? Shouldn't they just require instrument training for ALL pilot licenses, require all flights to be IFR, and eliminate VFR? If one is trained to fly in zero visibility using just the flight instruments, the only reason you need distance vision is to detect traffic if ATC hasn't warned you about it. And if the plane is equipped with a TCAS II, looking out the window is completely un-necessary.

As long as you can read your charts and instruments and communicate with ATC, your near vision and hearing is what determines whether you can fly safely.

IFR is safer as you will have ATC tracking you, and you are required to file a flight plan, which will assist search and rescue in case anything happens. So why do we still have VFR?

Sepp

"looking out the window is completely un-necessary"



After spending too many years as a Training Captain, I really hate to offer a negative comment without including a constructive suggestion but: your learning curve is going to be very steep, old son.

amityes2002

Hi all,

Recently i went for my CAA Initial Class 1 Medical , All went fine except the Blind Spot Test.

My left eye is fine , but on my right eye i missed two spots and they performed the test again on my right eye , this time again i missed spot but not on the same area.

The CAA wants me to do the check up with eye specialist because i had Lasik Laser Surgery in the past (14 yrs ago) and to make sure about my blind spots as well.

I need advice whether i will be able to clear the Class 1 or not.

Thank you

Maltese Falcon

I have recently been told by an eye specialist that I have "narrow angles", a situation which could, but will not necessarily, lead to angle-closure glaucoma. The standard preventive treatment for this condition is an iridotomy, where a laser is used to cut a small hole in the iris.

I have tried to research the implications for my medical certificate if I have the procedure done but there is very little information out there. What I really want to know is how long I can expect my Class 1 medical to be suspended for (assuming the procedure is 100% successful) or if it might be permanently revoked. Anybody with personal experience in this area with FAA, CAA etc?

Transsonic2000

Hi there,

I was wondering if there is anybody who can help me with the following question, is it possible to undergo a Lasik (eye) surgery without loosing your EASA 1st class medical? I know that in the US (FAA) it's possible, but I'm particular interested what the EASA says about Lasik for pilots.

Many thanks!

Scott96

Hi,

I have myopia currently at -4.50D. I see the CAA limits for myopia for a class 1 medical is -6.00D. What happens if my myopia gets beyond this limit? Am I simply never allowed to get a class 1, even though with correction (glasses) I have 20/20 vision?

Scoobster

Give them a call and ask the question... There have recently been changes in the Medical Staff at the CAA so they should be able to answer you directly.

Having said this I do recall that (and someone will probably be along to correct me shortly if I have it wrong).... I do recall that the "process" for medical related questions had changed somewhat and in the first instance your AME should be the first point of contact.

I suspect if you are out of limits they may be able to consider you for a restricted medical.. possible an OML.. but don't quote me on this.

I had a turbulent time regarding vision.

You could also always book in for a "Opthalmological Assessment" without taking the initial examination at LGW and they Eye Doc should be able to give you an answer.

Good Luck.

Scoobster