Laser Eye Treatment
Uncle Pete
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Laser Eye Treatment
Danny this may not be the right place for this important topic but here goes:-
Just looking at the link below the menu on the home page.
The latest I have on laser treatment from my ex-employers was that if you decide to have the treatment you can expect a year's unpaid leave whilst your eyes get better.
This ruling may be a company requirement or a licencing requirement.
Either way it would make sense to check up on the outcome of this treatment.
MP
Just looking at the link below the menu on the home page.
The latest I have on laser treatment from my ex-employers was that if you decide to have the treatment you can expect a year's unpaid leave whilst your eyes get better.
This ruling may be a company requirement or a licencing requirement.
Either way it would make sense to check up on the outcome of this treatment.
MP
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Pete
http://www.caa.co.uk/publications/pu...n=subcat&id=12
This links to the CAA research paper on the subject. Hope it helps.
http://www.caa.co.uk/publications/pu...n=subcat&id=12
This links to the CAA research paper on the subject. Hope it helps.
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Paxing All Over The World
I can only relay comments from two friends that have had it, both non-aviators.
The first said it was brilliant and he was functioning OK within a couple of days.
The second said it was ghastly and the treatment did not work.
I suspect that the reason for the long delay is that the eye continues to adjust after the treatment. Although it functions normally very quickly, it takes a long time to settle down. This is why you cannot have the second eye done for at least six months (may be more?) as they have to see how the first eye reacts.
The first said it was brilliant and he was functioning OK within a couple of days.
The second said it was ghastly and the treatment did not work.
I suspect that the reason for the long delay is that the eye continues to adjust after the treatment. Although it functions normally very quickly, it takes a long time to settle down. This is why you cannot have the second eye done for at least six months (may be more?) as they have to see how the first eye reacts.
Rebel PPRuNer
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Both eyes done at once.
I know someone [non-aviator] who got both done and was seriously disorientated for about a week afterward. Definitely not a poster boy for rushing things.
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Taking laser surgery IMHO means taking part in a long-time medical experiment. As no one knows the longt-time effects I would abstain from undergoing laser surgery if my job depended on my vision.
There have been various improvements since corrective eye surgery was invented 30-40 years ago and there probably will be more.
I wear glasses and though I have come to terms with them after almost 30 years I still find them bothersome. As I hold a pilot job I'd rather not risk that by undergoing eye surgery, however tempting getting rid of the glasses would be.
There have been various improvements since corrective eye surgery was invented 30-40 years ago and there probably will be more.
I wear glasses and though I have come to terms with them after almost 30 years I still find them bothersome. As I hold a pilot job I'd rather not risk that by undergoing eye surgery, however tempting getting rid of the glasses would be.
Chief PPRuNe Pilot
I am short sighted and now have to wear specs when flying. Whilst I would love to be able to go back to my youth when I was able to identify the a/c type at the head of a contrail 35,000 feet or so above me with the naked eye I realise that age and too much sitting in front of a computer has taken its toll. I know someone who has had laser treatment and swears by it but they weren't pilots and their initial eyesight was a lot worse than mine.
Laser surgery, either Lasik or Lasek is not adviseable for professional pilots because of the long down time between having the treatment and getting your medical back. I have noticed on another thread mention of a new treatment which does not involve any surgery at all and is totally reversible.
The treatment is described at http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...ghlight=cornea and although it is still undergoing testing it does look promising, especially for pilots once the various authorities give the go-ahead. For the next few years though I must lug those akward specs around with me.
Laser surgery, either Lasik or Lasek is not adviseable for professional pilots because of the long down time between having the treatment and getting your medical back. I have noticed on another thread mention of a new treatment which does not involve any surgery at all and is totally reversible.
The treatment is described at http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...ghlight=cornea and although it is still undergoing testing it does look promising, especially for pilots once the various authorities give the go-ahead. For the next few years though I must lug those akward specs around with me.
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The most important task, IMO, of a GP is to protect the patient as much as possible from the deleterious effects of hospital and secondary care. Don't get me wrong -- there are many wonderful medical treatments these days, but all have potential harms associated and should be administered with the greatest possible care and only when absolutely necessary.
For a professional pilot to submit themelves to laser treatment on their eye for convenience sake when the treatment has at best a long downtime and at worst an uncertain outcome strikes me as silly.
Don't believe anyone who tells you a treatment has no side effects or is perfectly safe. Such a medical treatment has not been invented so far and will never be invented.
QDM
For a professional pilot to submit themelves to laser treatment on their eye for convenience sake when the treatment has at best a long downtime and at worst an uncertain outcome strikes me as silly.
Don't believe anyone who tells you a treatment has no side effects or is perfectly safe. Such a medical treatment has not been invented so far and will never be invented.
QDM
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Of course there is no such thing as a "perfectly safe" medical procedure, but then again you could say that about anything, flying for instance. Anybody who goes to have the laser treatment on their eyes (as my wife did a few weeks ago) should be fully aware of the risks involved, and be informed of any potential side affects. With this info to hand an educated individual can decide whether or not to continue with treatment.
An option is to have a different (and more expensive) treatment, called Xyoptic treatment (or something like that, don't know the translation from Dutch.) This means that if the correction is not 100% accurate, the patient can have further corrective surgery. My wife went back 5 days ago, and today has had her check up. Her eyes are now perfect, as opposed to -5.5 and - 6.0. I, for one, am totally impressed. The Opthalmologist who carried out the operation told us he's being doing it for quite some time now, and he has never had a patient back for a 3rd time, although it would be possible, and only 8 to 10% come back for a second operation.
Of course, my wife is neither a pilot or an ATCO, so I completely understand that most of you on this forum have more at risk than she, but IMO the laser treatment they offer these days is very impressive indeed.
An option is to have a different (and more expensive) treatment, called Xyoptic treatment (or something like that, don't know the translation from Dutch.) This means that if the correction is not 100% accurate, the patient can have further corrective surgery. My wife went back 5 days ago, and today has had her check up. Her eyes are now perfect, as opposed to -5.5 and - 6.0. I, for one, am totally impressed. The Opthalmologist who carried out the operation told us he's being doing it for quite some time now, and he has never had a patient back for a 3rd time, although it would be possible, and only 8 to 10% come back for a second operation.
Of course, my wife is neither a pilot or an ATCO, so I completely understand that most of you on this forum have more at risk than she, but IMO the laser treatment they offer these days is very impressive indeed.
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Laser eye treatment
As posted on a previous thread on this subject - have a friend and colleague (not aircrew) who had treatment - both eyes at once.
One worke out just great - the other is a disaster in the process of slow natural recovery (about 15 months later), which will probably be reworked !!!
Should anybody be considering such attacks on their person - contact those who have done it - to help form your own opinion.
Would be happy to put anybody interested in touch with my friend - such discussions are now part of his lifestyle, and he does it willingly - just mail me.
Fully support QDM's very healthy attitude towards any treatment.
One worke out just great - the other is a disaster in the process of slow natural recovery (about 15 months later), which will probably be reworked !!!
Should anybody be considering such attacks on their person - contact those who have done it - to help form your own opinion.
Would be happy to put anybody interested in touch with my friend - such discussions are now part of his lifestyle, and he does it willingly - just mail me.
Fully support QDM's very healthy attitude towards any treatment.
Paxing All Over The World
The warning of medical hazards reminds me of a doctor's strike in a South American country several years ago.
When they looked at the stats a year later ... during the period of the hospital doctor's strike fewer people died than normal
When I asked a doctor friend of mine about this he said, "Of course! When you change something you risk making it worse, or precipitating something else."
When they looked at the stats a year later ... during the period of the hospital doctor's strike fewer people died than normal
When I asked a doctor friend of mine about this he said, "Of course! When you change something you risk making it worse, or precipitating something else."
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As well as the waiting time for the eye to stabilize, there is also the question of 'starring', which i understand is a result of all the laser eye surgery techniques. This is the phenomenon of a blurring or 'star' being apparent around a light source, and is especially apparent at night. One friend is literally no longer able to play tennis under lights because he cannot see the ball due to this. This makes it particularly difficult for aircrew to pass the 'glare test' mandated by the JAA regulations.
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Just talked to an JAA medical examiner yesterday about Laser, who is also an eye doctor.
He told me that the license is suspended for 4 weeks now (used to be a year) and that LASIK or LASEK should be glare free. More risk if one goes for PRK. For samll nearsightedness (-2.25) there should be no problem for LASIK which he recomended for me.
He told me that the license is suspended for 4 weeks now (used to be a year) and that LASIK or LASEK should be glare free. More risk if one goes for PRK. For samll nearsightedness (-2.25) there should be no problem for LASIK which he recomended for me.
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laser eye
i recently had laser eye treatment after 31 years of wearing specs. after having the surgery my eyes were going in and out of focus all day. the following day when i had a check my eyes were at driving test standard ie 6/12 or as the yanks call it 20/20. at my last check up i could read the bottom line of the chart, something ive never been able to do. the surgeon told me before the op that its not guaranteed(is any surgery?) and that the op has been done since the late 40's. and finally the us navy and army are advising all their short sighted personnel to have the op, but in the british forces personnel are not advised to have it.
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Smokie, a glare test is usually carried out after any surgery to the eye. It involves shining a light at an oblique angle into the eye as the candidate(?) attempts to identify letters/numbers directly to the front of him. If there is any starring, or any other opacity, it makes it very difficult to read the symbols. I had to have one after a cataract op to regain my JAA licence. Starring is particularly difficult for aircrew due to night vision requirements I understand.
