laser surgery - probably a recurring topic...
 

Hi.

Yes. I imagine this has been coming back and forward every so often but...

what exactly does the JAR say about eye correction surgery?!?!????? I cannot make it out for myself.

Things are worse in my personal case, because I'm just in the +/-3 dioptre range and really do not know what to do... whether to operate or not.

Thanks a lot. Any info or websites would be appreciated. In fact I am willing to start a website entirely about this matter.

Thank you.

Jose Luis
Barcelona, SPAIN.

Unclear

This is always a weird one I'm afraid. The JAA seems to change its mind a bit on this and usually appears to waiver towards the most conservative view.

They accepted PRK etc for PPL's and the like and then banned it for all new JAA initial issue class 1 medicals (although existing licence holders are still OK - logic?). This despite most of the rest of the world becoming more accepting of it.

The FAA had no problems with it at all, neither did the Australian CASA or the New Zealand CAA , etc, etc.

However being recently they went back to accepting it for both class 1 & 2. Common sense as significant numbers of people are having the PRK or LASIK procedure and odds on some pilots have already had it on the "sly".

I ask, would you rather have someone with great unaided eyesight in the other seat or some old geezer with thick bifocals that scatter everything at night, fall off at the worst times etc.

And yes I've had the PRK, 8 years ago - its been great. Unaided 6/5 eyesight an unrestricted class 1 medicals ever since.

The best info I can give you is check out the FAQ Medical section of the UK CAA website. It has the latest.

Hope things work out for you.

[This message has been edited by Warhawk (edited 20 October 2000).]

Hi Jlms

I don't think you need that surgery, because they have just changed the requirements from -3/+5 diopters so I guess you would be fine.

Their website also states that refractory surgery is OK, but not to amend Astigmatism.. (do not take this as Bible but the check their website or call them)

AMS

Hi guys.

Thank you ever so much for your answers.

However, I've been searching on www.jaa.nl but found nothing about the new -5 dioptre limitation.

Thanks.

José Luis

http://www.srg.caa.co.uk/pld/med/med_faq.asp

Looks like you shouldn't have a problem.
Cheers
Dirk

jlma;
i'm atpl student in belgium;
i thought that the new -5 limitation was for all the jaa members but it is unfortunately not the case for the moment ; this is only in application in the uk.
normally, one meeting is expected for the first week of december to decide if yes or not , the jar fcl 3 will accept the -5 limitation instead of -3 ; i'm in the same situation than u (close to the limit -2.5;-2.25) ,and hope that they will extend the limit;
loz