Laser Eye Surgery - Do CAA Allow it?
 

Just scraped a class one two weeks ago, I was now thinking about whether laser eye surgery may be a good idea to help me out with future medicals.

Anyone know if the CAA allow this - I know the RAF will not allow it, but I am only interested in the CAA.

Thanks for your help.

I've heard a pair of spectacles work pretty well.

Contact the CAA. They have a bunch of advice on this and don't recommend it lightly - can go quite wrong.

My 16 year old son wants to fly, but has acute astigmatism. I enquired of the CAA about laser treatment for him, but was told NO! They did however hint that they may be a relaxation of the requirements in the next two years - something about the possibility of JAA/FAA medical commonality. Any one have any more info?

Just to backup backtrack, laser eye surgery is a definite NO NO with the CAA.
I'm not quite sure on their reasoning behind this, I think it is something to do with the effect it may have on night vision / glare.
I have contacted them about this subject, and to see whether other forms of surgery are acceptable, but so far have heard nothing back.

A word of advice on laser surgery. Dont do it. Ask yourself this question...how many optometrists, opthamologists etc etc have had this done? Youll find the answer is none or almost none. Once they start getting it done to themselves then rethink it over until then stay away.

Aileron is absolutely right. Don't do it.

The word from the medicos is that ultimately, say within 20 years they will perfect eyesight correction, but they doubt it would be with laser ablation of the cornea. More likely an inter-ocular lens implant(the University of New South Wales is working on a polymer that is as flexible as the normal human lens. The other idea is a contact lens type device inserted between the cornea and the natural lens.

What ever the proceedure, there are thousands of people having their eyes done every week so there is a huge database of knowledge growing, and research in eyesight correction is progressing at a fantastic rate. Who knows what may be possible in even 10 years from now.

For more info on this, use the search button.

There are lots of good threads in both R&N and Wannabees forums.

Bye for now.....

Barney

Yes they do!!!
A friend of mine unable to pass class 1 medical had this treatment and was granted a class 1 twelve months after the procedure.
The CAA are however monitoring their progress anually.
:)

Laser corrected eye surgery is currently accepted by FAA South African and Australian CAA providing visual acuity standards are met and vision has "stabilised". Reports are required in some instances from the Surgeon who performed the procedure.
The CAA's position appears to be that they will consider certification for class 2 and recertification for class 1, providing original refractive error was not in excess of -5 diopters. This figure reflects the limit beyond which post-operative haze and glare tends tends to be a problem for people who have undergone PRK. There is however an alternative procedure known as lasik which combines the (CAA accepted) laser techniques used in PRK with a 40 years established surgical procedure. Research (openly quoted by the FAA) suggests that people who have undergone Lasik are much (20 to 30 times) less likely to suffer from haze, glare and other complications than those treated using PRK.
The outcome of Lasik is however very dependent upon the skill of the surgeon. Despite it's obvious success, there are risks. However small these may seem, your eyes need to be open to the possibility that you might be one of the unlucky few to end up with a lower level of best corrected visual acuity.

No! No! No!

Don't do it mate - if you've got the class one already you're okay to renew to -5. anyway this stupid uncorrected rule will go within a couple of years so why take the risk?

That's obviously a personal view but there you are.

Magoo

I had Radial keratotomy (manual incisions) in both eyes ten years ago. I think I was -3.25 in both eyes, and now have 6/6 vision. Never any problems. CAA were suspicious but gave class one with no restrictions. I believe they dont recommend it, and will ban you from flying for 1 year after surgery, but hey, if its your last resort - what have you to lose (other than your sight if his hand slips!)

ryan I had radial karatotomy done on both eyes 15 years ago.Up to now have not suffred any of the problums mentioned in this thread.I would appreciate it if Honey truck could give me some more info about CAA rules .

[This message has been edited by lumbalund (edited 11 April 2000).]

IF you are fit and have a class1 dont bother.

Hey Ryan I was just talking to a guy today that does the eye tests for the CAA and he said definately nope.Although I have heard rumours about some people who are pilots now and they have had it done,although I emphasize RUMOURS!Billovitch is correct contact the CAA although whether even they can give you a good answer you would be happy with is doubtful.I,m not sure they have made their mind up quite yet.

Hope this helps a bit
Banjax

No no no, Stay well clear of laser surgery.

I know people who've had it, some have had a bad time of it with problems to their eyes, some had the revolving door at Aviation House. ALL had a nightmare with the CAA

Look at the bods who're doing the procedure on you and most of them wear glasses!!!! .......makes you think!

Best wait until the limits are raised (as they will be) in the next couple of years.

If you want to talk to someone who knows ALL about it and can advise accordingly, talk to Dr Perry.

Hope this helps a bit

who is Dr Perry?

The answer in No. It is still experimental so it is not allowed. However I think the laws will be relaxed in a while. Good Luck

Just found this thread after posting
http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/For...ML/007411.html

Go and see it, lots of links about lasik and natural vision improvement.

And Just - Say - No !