Specialist Eye Assesment Referral post OASC P2 Meds [& Now Bloods!]
 

Just after some info.

Have been declared Temporarily Medically Unfit post Part 2 OASC Medicals for Pilot entry, as I took a course of Roaccutane acne treatment over 7 years ago.

Apparently it 'may affect night vision' and I'll be referred to a specialist in Birminginham for a further opthamology assesment. Just wondered if anybody knew where the appointment will be and what further tests are involved?

Annoying thing is that I only took the stuff for a week and binned the rest as it dried my lips up too much!

Any advice/info much appreciated.

RTA

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visited The Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM) at Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, on Tuesday 3 October 2006.
The Prince of Wales visits staff and patients at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Selly Oak Hospital, 3 October 2006 [Picture: PA]The visit was an important morale boost for the hard working military and NHS staff at the hospital who work together delivering first class medical care to service patients. Service patients attend Selly Oak Hospital both as residents and out patients

Shouldn't worry too much roofie, likelyhood is that in rare cases the drug can affect eyesight, and this test is just to ensure it hasn't in your case.

To put your mind at ease, my friend had this exact same problem pre-iot, went to the appointment, everything was hunkey dorey, he's flying.

Read this BMJ article.

Two out of 47 tested had night blindness, with another 11 showing some signs. It would be very surprising if one week's use so long ago had affected you. Good luck.

Ideal, just the three responses I was looking for.

Cheers all, you've helped dash my pessimism considerably.

I’ll still gladly hear any other instances/experiences as well though.

My son had same problem. It was a worrying time, but he passed OK, now flying Chinooks.
Good luck, from what I gathered at the appointment I don't think you have to much to worry about.

Rooftop, check your PM's

Rooftop - see me on Tuesday!

Duncs:ok:

You'll be fine bud, its only the rarest cases were this is a problem.
Good Luck

Just to make life easier I also now have to have my blood test retaken for repeat U & E results.

Have had a quick look on the web, Urine & Electrolytes is what they're after, a test of renal function. Have had one mate who's mentioned it's a common recurrence. Can anyone vouch for that?

Anything I should/shouldn't scoff before the 12 hr fast before giving a sample that might/might not help?

As an update, Med Boards have told me the eye assessment will take 2-3 months to complete with 2 appointments, that is however once they get the first appointment sorted! :ugh:

They measure your heart through your head? Wierd! Are you sure you don't mean an electroencephalogram?

All aircrew do this test for their part 2 medical, it's to test for predisposition to fitting, rather than eyesight.

As far as the blood retest goes, I had to have mine retaken for cholesterol and liver function. I nearly had kittens, and went on a binge of milk thistle and Benecol, while abstaining from all alcohol and fried food! Ended up talking to someone in the know at OASC (can't remember if it was before or after the blood was drawn and sent off by my GP) who informed me that there hadn't been any problem with my original tests, other than that they actually hadn't been performed before they discarded my original blood sample!! :mad:

Shouldn't wonder if the same thing has happened in your case; it rather reminds me of what I was told by the Leuchars dentist during my first annual dental post-IOT. He had reviewed my x-rays prior to my appointment, and as I took the chair, his assistant was preparing tools for some dental surgery! Upon looking in my mouth he took another look at my x-rays, then asked me if I'd had my wisdom teeth removed in the last 12 months. I hadn't, and he concluded that OASC had put the wrong x-rays in the wrong patient folder....again! I wonder how many young officers get their teeth drilled or extracted in error while others are walking around with rotten ones in ignorace!