Laser Surgery & Class 1 Medical
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Laser Surgery & Class 1 Medical
Hello,
I was just wondering whether you could still pass the Class 1 Medical exam if you've had laser surgery before. Thank you
A333
I was just wondering whether you could still pass the Class 1 Medical exam if you've had laser surgery before. Thank you
A333
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I assume you mean laser eye surgery?
Short answer is yes, if you meet the visual acuity requirements. If not you may still need to wear corrective lenses.
Of course this is something you would need to discuss with your aviation doctor and optical surgeon.
I would be interested to hear how people have got on with this, as it's something I plan to do also. Cheers.
Short answer is yes, if you meet the visual acuity requirements. If not you may still need to wear corrective lenses.
Of course this is something you would need to discuss with your aviation doctor and optical surgeon.
I would be interested to hear how people have got on with this, as it's something I plan to do also. Cheers.
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Laser surgery...
For those who may be contemplating it...
I had PRK Laser eye surgery done in 1997, which was very successful. I still don't need corrective lenses coming up to 8 years later.
I applied for my Class 1 medical in 2002, and never had a problem with my eyes.
From what I understand, DAMES become concerned if you've had your laser surgery within the past 12 - 18 months, as your eyes are still recovering even this long after the event.
The two options for me at the time (both are still used regularly, and there may be another method as well now) are PRK (where the Cornea is re-shaped by the laser) and Lasik (where the Cornea is removed, the lens shaped by the laser, and the Cornea replaced).
I chose PRK over Lasik because:
1. Cheaper ($4000.00 instead of $5000.00)
2. Better suited for my correction (- 3.5 in each eye)
3. PRK (I was advised) was more likely than Lasik to have complications, but the complications likely were of a much smaller magnitude. That is, easier to correct later.
4. The Lasik process removes and then replaces the Cornea. But the Cornea has little blood supply, and is very slow to heal. If you lead an active lifestyle (e.g. parachuting, or other "body impact" sports) there is a possiblility of dislodging the cornea up to 12 months after the operation.
For those preferring Lasik, the advantages are:
1. Less use of the laser, so the recovery time (i.e. when you can see reasonably well again) is only about a day compared with about a week with PRK.
2. Better suited for larger corrections.
3. Less pain (during the recovery).
For both, though, you've got to be conscious and looking at a certain point while the surgery is going on (about 30 seconds). The laser sounds like a sparking short circuit, and the burning smell is your own flesh! Not for the squeamish!
Is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY!
DIVOSH!
I had PRK Laser eye surgery done in 1997, which was very successful. I still don't need corrective lenses coming up to 8 years later.
I applied for my Class 1 medical in 2002, and never had a problem with my eyes.
From what I understand, DAMES become concerned if you've had your laser surgery within the past 12 - 18 months, as your eyes are still recovering even this long after the event.
The two options for me at the time (both are still used regularly, and there may be another method as well now) are PRK (where the Cornea is re-shaped by the laser) and Lasik (where the Cornea is removed, the lens shaped by the laser, and the Cornea replaced).
I chose PRK over Lasik because:
1. Cheaper ($4000.00 instead of $5000.00)
2. Better suited for my correction (- 3.5 in each eye)
3. PRK (I was advised) was more likely than Lasik to have complications, but the complications likely were of a much smaller magnitude. That is, easier to correct later.
4. The Lasik process removes and then replaces the Cornea. But the Cornea has little blood supply, and is very slow to heal. If you lead an active lifestyle (e.g. parachuting, or other "body impact" sports) there is a possiblility of dislodging the cornea up to 12 months after the operation.
For those preferring Lasik, the advantages are:
1. Less use of the laser, so the recovery time (i.e. when you can see reasonably well again) is only about a day compared with about a week with PRK.
2. Better suited for larger corrections.
3. Less pain (during the recovery).
For both, though, you've got to be conscious and looking at a certain point while the surgery is going on (about 30 seconds). The laser sounds like a sparking short circuit, and the burning smell is your own flesh! Not for the squeamish!
Is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY!
DIVOSH!
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Not much
The success of the surgery depends on the quality of your vision to begin with, and your expectations. A -1.0D eye is more easily corrected than a -7.0D eye, but there will at least be an improvement in almost 100% of cases. Having to wear glasses to fly after surgery doesn't make it a failure - some pilots are required to wear contact lenses (not specticles) due to the severity of their miopia, to be able to fly with just specticles would be a huge advantage.
Just a small correction Di_Vosh, LASIK surgery does not reshape the lense, it is similar to PRK in that the cornea is reshaped, but as you said a flap of cornea is lifted, and the under layer (still part of the cornea) reshaped. There is another type of eye surgery where a small plastic lenses is implanted between the lense and the cornea. The advantage with this is the lense may be changed as your eyes adjust.
I wonder if avitaion doctors would prefer you to do one eye at a time (eg wait 12-18 months between)?
The success of the surgery depends on the quality of your vision to begin with, and your expectations. A -1.0D eye is more easily corrected than a -7.0D eye, but there will at least be an improvement in almost 100% of cases. Having to wear glasses to fly after surgery doesn't make it a failure - some pilots are required to wear contact lenses (not specticles) due to the severity of their miopia, to be able to fly with just specticles would be a huge advantage.
Just a small correction Di_Vosh, LASIK surgery does not reshape the lense, it is similar to PRK in that the cornea is reshaped, but as you said a flap of cornea is lifted, and the under layer (still part of the cornea) reshaped. There is another type of eye surgery where a small plastic lenses is implanted between the lense and the cornea. The advantage with this is the lense may be changed as your eyes adjust.
I wonder if avitaion doctors would prefer you to do one eye at a time (eg wait 12-18 months between)?
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Kick
I believe you were referring to those who perform the procedure all wearing glasses?
Just about nobody would choose to wear specs if there was a safe, effective and simple procedure you could undergo which meant you could dispense with them. The few thousand dollars it costs would not be a barrier for the opthalmologists who perform the procedure. If that is the case there must be another reason they are still wearing glasses. Maybe too busy making $$ to take time out? Or just concerned about the still unknown potential long term effects of the surgery?
There is plenty of discussion about laser eye surgery on the medical forum.
I believe you were referring to those who perform the procedure all wearing glasses?
Just about nobody would choose to wear specs if there was a safe, effective and simple procedure you could undergo which meant you could dispense with them. The few thousand dollars it costs would not be a barrier for the opthalmologists who perform the procedure. If that is the case there must be another reason they are still wearing glasses. Maybe too busy making $$ to take time out? Or just concerned about the still unknown potential long term effects of the surgery?
There is plenty of discussion about laser eye surgery on the medical forum.
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I had Lasik performed back in 1997.... and they LEFT MY CORNEA RIGHT WHERE IT SHOULD BE !!!!
They actually peel the outer layer of skin off, perform the laser surgery, replace the skin (which incidentally has the fastest regeneration ability in the human body), and then 20 minutes later, you can walk out the door. I actually walked home. Next day driving around. but then again, I jogged home from my vasectomy.
As far as CASA and all that cr@p, I was back flying 14 days later (commercially) after a progress report by an ophthalmologist.
Dr Steven Siebert in Lasik Clinic in Rose Park, Adelaide, performs the operation, and is also a DAME, and his son is a QF driver too, so he knows all the angles. Talk to him...fantastic guy.
Now, I am seeing aircraft before they appear on TCAS, and I can spot a hostie's G-string a mile away, .... but closer would be better....
Since the op, no questions asked, no frowns from my employer (major RPT jet), or other crew.... nobody knows any different...apart from you..... and it's great to lose those coke bottles.. I was -5.0 both eyes..
They actually peel the outer layer of skin off, perform the laser surgery, replace the skin (which incidentally has the fastest regeneration ability in the human body), and then 20 minutes later, you can walk out the door. I actually walked home. Next day driving around. but then again, I jogged home from my vasectomy.
As far as CASA and all that cr@p, I was back flying 14 days later (commercially) after a progress report by an ophthalmologist.
Dr Steven Siebert in Lasik Clinic in Rose Park, Adelaide, performs the operation, and is also a DAME, and his son is a QF driver too, so he knows all the angles. Talk to him...fantastic guy.
Now, I am seeing aircraft before they appear on TCAS, and I can spot a hostie's G-string a mile away, .... but closer would be better....
Since the op, no questions asked, no frowns from my employer (major RPT jet), or other crew.... nobody knows any different...apart from you..... and it's great to lose those coke bottles.. I was -5.0 both eyes..
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What about Ortho-K?
Folks please excuse me for going fractionally off topic ....
Did any of you who have had or considered LASIK or PRK consider Ortho-K instead? For those not in the know, Ortho-K involves wearing rigid contact lenses to bed, taking them out when you wake up, and having perfectly corrected vision for the next 20-30 hours.
I started in the mid-1990s, from L -2.25 R -1.75 (?) to perfection. The advantages are three fold over the surgical interventions - no pain at all; reversible; cheaper. No class 1 medical problems either.
Not sure where the ADF stands on Ortho-K, but I was still in the Army when I started the program. The RAInf didn't provide the ideal setting for removing and adding lenses, & I suspect it would be similar in AAAvn and other corps. For the RAN & RAAF these considerations would probably not apply - the dirty and dark middle of the bush sort of considerations.
I can't imagine any of the airlines having any problems with Ortho-K either.
Cheers
Did any of you who have had or considered LASIK or PRK consider Ortho-K instead? For those not in the know, Ortho-K involves wearing rigid contact lenses to bed, taking them out when you wake up, and having perfectly corrected vision for the next 20-30 hours.
I started in the mid-1990s, from L -2.25 R -1.75 (?) to perfection. The advantages are three fold over the surgical interventions - no pain at all; reversible; cheaper. No class 1 medical problems either.
Not sure where the ADF stands on Ortho-K, but I was still in the Army when I started the program. The RAInf didn't provide the ideal setting for removing and adding lenses, & I suspect it would be similar in AAAvn and other corps. For the RAN & RAAF these considerations would probably not apply - the dirty and dark middle of the bush sort of considerations.
I can't imagine any of the airlines having any problems with Ortho-K either.
Cheers
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DeltaSix
No, I'm still wearing them just about every night. If I skip a night I start drifting off perfect vision after ~30 hours, say by lunchtime the following day. The degradation is slow, the vision starts losing its sharp clarity - street signs become harder to read that night, etc. The change isn't sudden.
I was told that for some peeps the requirement dropped to once or twice a week after a year or so, but it wasn't to be pour moi.
Regards
No, I'm still wearing them just about every night. If I skip a night I start drifting off perfect vision after ~30 hours, say by lunchtime the following day. The degradation is slow, the vision starts losing its sharp clarity - street signs become harder to read that night, etc. The change isn't sudden.
I was told that for some peeps the requirement dropped to once or twice a week after a year or so, but it wasn't to be pour moi.
Regards
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Thanks for the replies, they're greatly appreciated.
I also have 2 more question which I hope someone could answer for me - I'd just like to know whether you're allowed to try out for the Qantas Cadetship Stage 1 if you wear glasses. My right eye is about -1.25 and left eye is about -1.75 (Short Sighted). Will I also be able to pass the Class 1 Medical wearing glasses?
Thank you very much, your help is greatly appreciated!
A333
I also have 2 more question which I hope someone could answer for me - I'd just like to know whether you're allowed to try out for the Qantas Cadetship Stage 1 if you wear glasses. My right eye is about -1.25 and left eye is about -1.75 (Short Sighted). Will I also be able to pass the Class 1 Medical wearing glasses?
Thank you very much, your help is greatly appreciated!
A333
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Passing class 1 med with glasses
A333,
I started wearing glasses two years ago when my right eye became myopic and I passed Class 1 med 2 times already since that. I only wear it when I'm flying or driving though.
But then if your eye problem is caused by a disease like cataract, diabetes or other health problems instead of natural weakening of the eye then it might pose a problem.
D6
I started wearing glasses two years ago when my right eye became myopic and I passed Class 1 med 2 times already since that. I only wear it when I'm flying or driving though.
But then if your eye problem is caused by a disease like cataract, diabetes or other health problems instead of natural weakening of the eye then it might pose a problem.
D6
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Thanks D6, my eyes aren't caused by any health problems. I think I got it from my dad's side. Is -1.25 and -1.75 bad?
Also, will I be able to try out for the Qantas Cadetship as I heard from some that you're not allowed to try out for it if you wear glasses. Once again, thank you very much for your help!
Also, will I be able to try out for the Qantas Cadetship as I heard from some that you're not allowed to try out for it if you wear glasses. Once again, thank you very much for your help!
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Can someone please answer my other question on whether I'd be allowed to try out for the Qantas Cadetship if I wear glasses?
Thank you, your help will be greatly appreciated.
A333
Thank you, your help will be greatly appreciated.
A333
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a333,
as BigFella said, no issue if your eyesight's corrected! I'm about -5.0 in both eyes, never had a prob with a class 1 medical....
As for the cadetship, I know of a couple of guys that've got in with corrected vision, so don't worry, won't be a problem...
Good luck!
Harlow
as BigFella said, no issue if your eyesight's corrected! I'm about -5.0 in both eyes, never had a prob with a class 1 medical....
As for the cadetship, I know of a couple of guys that've got in with corrected vision, so don't worry, won't be a problem...
Good luck!
Harlow
