Eyesight...
Guest
Posts: n/a
Eyesight...
Hi everyone! Another question from me if anyone can help! Before making any drastic decisions I ought to establish whether i can pass the Class 1 Medical. I had excimer laser treatment on both eyes about 6 years ago (I was short sighted but now I can see again). Is this accepted in the Class 1 Medical? This is the only bit that worries me about the medical but before paying £400.00 or whatever it is I ought to believe I stand a good chance of passing it! Thanks in advance. Steve.
Guest
Posts: n/a
My advice: Contact the Medical Division of the CAA in Gatwick and ask them. They are the only ones who can give you a definite answer since they are going to examin you for your initial Class 1 Medical and decide whether you can get one. Their tel. no is 01293 573700 (Call Centre) or 01293 567171 (Switchboard)
GAF4139
GAF4139
Guest
Posts: n/a
I understand the CAA are still a bit funny when it comes to laser eye treatment (BA expressly disallow it, at least for the CEP scheme), but opinions are changing as confidence rises in the success of the treatment. In the next year or two I'm sure it will be no problem. I guess no-one can be 100% sure what the long term effects of laser treatment will be - though every indication is that it should be no problem, the aviation industry and regulatory bodies are understandably strict when there's potentially such a lot at stake.
It's definitely worth calling the CAA - you may find they've changed their rules by now.
WGW
It's definitely worth calling the CAA - you may find they've changed their rules by now.
WGW
Guest
Posts: n/a
Rohan;
Take a look at the CAA's standards at:
http://www.srg.caa.co.uk/pld/med/med..._1_medical.htm
It says correction of long sightedness is not acceptable but doesn't say that for short sightedness. You ;;;should;;; be alright. I thought a £20 eye test at boots along with a printout of their standards was a good plan before forking out £400 for the CAA medical.
Good luck!
SS
Take a look at the CAA's standards at:
http://www.srg.caa.co.uk/pld/med/med..._1_medical.htm
It says correction of long sightedness is not acceptable but doesn't say that for short sightedness. You ;;;should;;; be alright. I thought a £20 eye test at boots along with a printout of their standards was a good plan before forking out £400 for the CAA medical.
Good luck!
SS
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Kingston-Upon-Thames
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Eyesight...
Are there any good news stories out there about short-sightedness, The Bates Method, and the visual test for a Class 1 medical.
I'm evaluating the prospects of successfully acquiring a CPL(H) licence and my eyesight is the major barrier from what I can see (which isn't much or I wouldn't be here!)
I've had a first session with a Bates practioner and now I'm just hoping. Some confidence inspiring tales would be appreciated.
I'm evaluating the prospects of successfully acquiring a CPL(H) licence and my eyesight is the major barrier from what I can see (which isn't much or I wouldn't be here!)
I've had a first session with a Bates practioner and now I'm just hoping. Some confidence inspiring tales would be appreciated.
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Kingston-Upon-Thames
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Kraken
I outside of the proposed limits of -5 dioptres, never mind the existing -3. Hopefully someone out there will tell me that they used to be -6, -7, -8.... and Bates got them within the requirements.
I outside of the proposed limits of -5 dioptres, never mind the existing -3. Hopefully someone out there will tell me that they used to be -6, -7, -8.... and Bates got them within the requirements.
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Yorks
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My shortsightedness started around puberty, worsened until my mid-teens and then stabilised immediately I stopped using the 'bates method.
All that is widely-known as is the fact that it's best keep to well away from choppers...
All that is widely-known as is the fact that it's best keep to well away from choppers...
Join Date: May 2000
Location: usa
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
bored marketeer Ortho-k would probably work although I believe it can be painful. If you are now outside of the initial limits but within the renewal limits then get ortho-k until you have a low enough prescription to pass the initial then let your eyes return to their normal state and you should be good for renewal.
As for having a diopter limit in the first place well that is just plain and simple bad science. The diopter is not a measure of how well you are seeing it is the strength of your lenses. It's only function is to make sure that your optician and the guy who makes your glasses are on the same page.
My uncorrected vision is 20/50 which is pretty good, I can get around without my glasses or contacts if I have to although I choose not to. My prescription is -2.75 in each eye. I have a friend who has uncorrected vision of 20/200 he is unable to function without his specs, his prescrition is -1.75 in each eye. Although in general the worse your eyesight the stronger the lens this is not true in all cases and if you can be corrected to 20/20 nothing should stand in your way of becoming a pilot.
The FAA used to require a waiver if uncorrected vision was worse than a certain level 20/200 I think was the cut off, everybody who asked for this waiver got it and after a long number of years where the accident statistics of these waivered airmen exactly matched their unwaivered counterparts and their were no accidents where poor eyesight was listed as a causal factor, the FAA dropped the requirement for a waiver. Now all you need is 20/20 with or without correction. A very practical and reasonable bunch the yanks are.
As for having a diopter limit in the first place well that is just plain and simple bad science. The diopter is not a measure of how well you are seeing it is the strength of your lenses. It's only function is to make sure that your optician and the guy who makes your glasses are on the same page.
My uncorrected vision is 20/50 which is pretty good, I can get around without my glasses or contacts if I have to although I choose not to. My prescription is -2.75 in each eye. I have a friend who has uncorrected vision of 20/200 he is unable to function without his specs, his prescrition is -1.75 in each eye. Although in general the worse your eyesight the stronger the lens this is not true in all cases and if you can be corrected to 20/20 nothing should stand in your way of becoming a pilot.
The FAA used to require a waiver if uncorrected vision was worse than a certain level 20/200 I think was the cut off, everybody who asked for this waiver got it and after a long number of years where the accident statistics of these waivered airmen exactly matched their unwaivered counterparts and their were no accidents where poor eyesight was listed as a causal factor, the FAA dropped the requirement for a waiver. Now all you need is 20/20 with or without correction. A very practical and reasonable bunch the yanks are.
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Australia
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How about colour vision? I was issued with an OZ ATPL on the basis of the Farnsworth Lantern Test.Those plates with the coloured dots look like a pizza to me! Is there an ICAO standard? If so, what countries accept or don't accept this standard??
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi BoredMarketeer. If I was you, I would have the laser surgery to correct your eyesight to within class 1 limits. What I would NOT do is tell Medical Division as they won't give you a medical for a year after the surgery (you can't do that if you already have a class 2 of course!)
My eyesight is outside class 1 limits but I was given a medical after completing 700 hours flying. This was pre-JAR so I don't know if this option is available to you. Apparently the thinking is that a 700 hour pilot is experienced and so they are willing to relax the rules.Failing that get an FAA licence and marry a yank. Where theres a will....
My eyesight is outside class 1 limits but I was given a medical after completing 700 hours flying. This was pre-JAR so I don't know if this option is available to you. Apparently the thinking is that a 700 hour pilot is experienced and so they are willing to relax the rules.Failing that get an FAA licence and marry a yank. Where theres a will....
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gordon Bennett-
I've never known the CAA or JAA to relax their rules for anybody!! Well done on breaking the mold on that one!
As regards Laser correction; they spot that one a mile off at the class 1 initial. When they see it, they don't give you the cert.. Nuff said!
I've never known the CAA or JAA to relax their rules for anybody!! Well done on breaking the mold on that one!
As regards Laser correction; they spot that one a mile off at the class 1 initial. When they see it, they don't give you the cert.. Nuff said!
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Kingston-Upon-Thames
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Must admist I'm not keen on the laser surgery anyway! Guess Mr Bates is going to have to do. So - as at 28th November 2001, I can't pass Class 1. Wish me luck and watch this space (otherwise I shall be off to the States - anyone know any single American lasses of reasonable appearance (with corrected vision!!)). 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Area 51
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i was prompted to a site which has new proposed regulations for the class 1 and class 2 eyesight requirements not sure when they might be implemented but 2 years is been talked about.
hope this was as good a piece of news for you as it was for me.
http://www.srg.caa.co.uk/documents/m..._News_2001.PDF
hope this was as good a piece of news for you as it was for me.
http://www.srg.caa.co.uk/documents/m..._News_2001.PDF
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Area 51
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
for those without acrobat reader heres the page
JAA Medical Subcommittee (MSC) News 2001
See below for a summary of the meetings of the committee and the principal decisions.
For last year’s news see Information/General or click on MSC News in 2000.
March 2001
This meeting mainly discussed changes to the ophthalmology requirements. No consensus
could be reached, and further discussion was deferred to the next meeting (see below).
June 2001
Again, the major topic of discussion was the ophthalmology requirements and the MSC
eventually agreed the changes, but by majority voting. They are summarised below.
However, before they become formally incorporated into JAR FCL 3 (Medical) they need to
be promulgated as a ‘Notice of Proposed Amendment’ (NPA) so that individuals and
organisations can comment. Such comments will be taken into account by the MSC (and
the Flight Crew Licensing Committee, which can overrule a MSC decision) and the proposals
adjusted as necessary. After that there are some legal and administrative procedures to be
followed by the JAA before the new standards become formally incorporated as Joint
Aviation Requirements. This process can take up to two years, particularly for a
controversial subject like ophthalmology. It might be possible for earlier implementation to
occur by the issuance of a ‘Temporary Guidance Leaflet’, but this is unlikely as there was not
unanimous support for the proposed changes. The question of timescales for
implementation will be discussed at the next MSC meeting in late August.
A summary of the proposed Ophthalmology Requirements is given below (note that these
are proposals - see the appropriate Medical Division web pages for the current
requirements).
JAA Class 1 initial:
+5/- 5 dioptres (no requirement for stability)
2 dioptres astigmatism
2 dioptres anisometropia
Refractive surgery: acceptable with a pre-operative refraction between +5 and
-5 dioptres (the UK is already accepting applicants up to these limits with a
good result a year after surgery)
JAA Class 1 revalidation/renewal:
+5/-8 dioptres (an initial applicant between –5 and –8 dioptres cannot gain a
Class 1 certificate, even if stable)
3 dioptres astigmatism
3 dioptres anisometropia
Class 1 holders over 40 years must have an extended eye examination every two
years by an optometrist (or an ophthalmologist if correction is greater than –5 dioptres
or uncorrected visual acuity is worse than 6/60). For pilots under 40 years this two
yearly examination is required for certificate holders who wear glasses or contact
lenses to meet the requirements. Currently the UK CAA is happy for AMEs to do
these examinations (see ‘What’s New’ item on Comprehensive Eye and
Ear/Nose/Throat Examinations)
JAA Class 2 initial:
+5/-8 dioptres
3 dioptres astigmatism
3 dioptres anisometropia
Refractive surgery: acceptable with pre-operative refraction between +5 and -8
dioptres
JAA Class 2 revalidation/renewal:
+5/-8 dioptres
Astigmatism – no limit
Anisometropia – no limit
The UK argued for more relaxed requirements than those stated above, but was
unsuccessful. UK CAA policy changes will be announced on these web pages when
timescales have been agreed for implementation and the exact requirements have been
accepted.
Other items discussed included the relaxation of the limits for Class 1 certificate holders who
develop aortic stenosis (narrowing of the main valve in the heart). There was a long
discussion on psychology requirements, but ultimately no changes were proposed.
Three states brought cases to the committee where the UK had issued initial Class 1
medical certificates to applicants who, according to the three states, did not meet the
standards in JAR-FCL 3. There will be further discussion about this at the next meeting.
However, it may become more of a problem since (in June 2001) the FCL committee
approved NPA 14. This contains the requirement (JAR-FCL 3.065) that all applicants for a
licence must have their initial medical done in the state of licence issue. Thus applicants
may (quite correctly) do an initial medical in their home state before starting to train. If,
subsequently, they decide to train (and eventually apply for a licence) in another JAA state,
they would have to take another initial medical examination in the ‘training’ state. What
would happen if there was a disagreement between the two states over an applicant’s
fitness? Which state would decide? The UK CAA Medical Division feels that amendments
to the regulations, if they do not effect flight safety, should simplify the certification process,
rather than make it more complicated.
July 2001
woohoo!!
[ 28 November 2001: Message edited by: rahaney ]
JAA Medical Subcommittee (MSC) News 2001
See below for a summary of the meetings of the committee and the principal decisions.
For last year’s news see Information/General or click on MSC News in 2000.
March 2001
This meeting mainly discussed changes to the ophthalmology requirements. No consensus
could be reached, and further discussion was deferred to the next meeting (see below).
June 2001
Again, the major topic of discussion was the ophthalmology requirements and the MSC
eventually agreed the changes, but by majority voting. They are summarised below.
However, before they become formally incorporated into JAR FCL 3 (Medical) they need to
be promulgated as a ‘Notice of Proposed Amendment’ (NPA) so that individuals and
organisations can comment. Such comments will be taken into account by the MSC (and
the Flight Crew Licensing Committee, which can overrule a MSC decision) and the proposals
adjusted as necessary. After that there are some legal and administrative procedures to be
followed by the JAA before the new standards become formally incorporated as Joint
Aviation Requirements. This process can take up to two years, particularly for a
controversial subject like ophthalmology. It might be possible for earlier implementation to
occur by the issuance of a ‘Temporary Guidance Leaflet’, but this is unlikely as there was not
unanimous support for the proposed changes. The question of timescales for
implementation will be discussed at the next MSC meeting in late August.
A summary of the proposed Ophthalmology Requirements is given below (note that these
are proposals - see the appropriate Medical Division web pages for the current
requirements).
JAA Class 1 initial:
+5/- 5 dioptres (no requirement for stability)
2 dioptres astigmatism
2 dioptres anisometropia
Refractive surgery: acceptable with a pre-operative refraction between +5 and
-5 dioptres (the UK is already accepting applicants up to these limits with a
good result a year after surgery)
JAA Class 1 revalidation/renewal:
+5/-8 dioptres (an initial applicant between –5 and –8 dioptres cannot gain a
Class 1 certificate, even if stable)
3 dioptres astigmatism
3 dioptres anisometropia
Class 1 holders over 40 years must have an extended eye examination every two
years by an optometrist (or an ophthalmologist if correction is greater than –5 dioptres
or uncorrected visual acuity is worse than 6/60). For pilots under 40 years this two
yearly examination is required for certificate holders who wear glasses or contact
lenses to meet the requirements. Currently the UK CAA is happy for AMEs to do
these examinations (see ‘What’s New’ item on Comprehensive Eye and
Ear/Nose/Throat Examinations)
JAA Class 2 initial:
+5/-8 dioptres
3 dioptres astigmatism
3 dioptres anisometropia
Refractive surgery: acceptable with pre-operative refraction between +5 and -8
dioptres
JAA Class 2 revalidation/renewal:
+5/-8 dioptres
Astigmatism – no limit
Anisometropia – no limit
The UK argued for more relaxed requirements than those stated above, but was
unsuccessful. UK CAA policy changes will be announced on these web pages when
timescales have been agreed for implementation and the exact requirements have been
accepted.
Other items discussed included the relaxation of the limits for Class 1 certificate holders who
develop aortic stenosis (narrowing of the main valve in the heart). There was a long
discussion on psychology requirements, but ultimately no changes were proposed.
Three states brought cases to the committee where the UK had issued initial Class 1
medical certificates to applicants who, according to the three states, did not meet the
standards in JAR-FCL 3. There will be further discussion about this at the next meeting.
However, it may become more of a problem since (in June 2001) the FCL committee
approved NPA 14. This contains the requirement (JAR-FCL 3.065) that all applicants for a
licence must have their initial medical done in the state of licence issue. Thus applicants
may (quite correctly) do an initial medical in their home state before starting to train. If,
subsequently, they decide to train (and eventually apply for a licence) in another JAA state,
they would have to take another initial medical examination in the ‘training’ state. What
would happen if there was a disagreement between the two states over an applicant’s
fitness? Which state would decide? The UK CAA Medical Division feels that amendments
to the regulations, if they do not effect flight safety, should simplify the certification process,
rather than make it more complicated.
July 2001
woohoo!!
[ 28 November 2001: Message edited by: rahaney ]
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I stand corrected on corrective surgery!!
I only stated what I was told during my initial 3mths ago. I suppose it just goes to show the level of interest the docs really have in allowing us to fulfill our dreams!
Get your surgery BoredMarketeer me matey, and (with any luck) in a year, you'll be class 1 fit!!!
My heart-felt best wishes to you!!!
I only stated what I was told during my initial 3mths ago. I suppose it just goes to show the level of interest the docs really have in allowing us to fulfill our dreams!
Get your surgery BoredMarketeer me matey, and (with any luck) in a year, you'll be class 1 fit!!!
My heart-felt best wishes to you!!!
PPRuNe Engineering Dept Apprentice
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Deep in the boglands of Western Ireland
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bad eyesight: is there redemtion?
I've been given the thumbs down by an optician for my one badly short-sighted eye, and he says if I get glasses, the other will get lazy go with it! So is that it? I can never get behind the joystick? Not here in Ireland, not abroad? I don't want just a PPL, even with DC-3 type ratings! Are all the airlines scared of laser surgery? I feel so powerless! Help!
<img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="confused.gif" border="0"> <img src="frown.gif" border="0">
<img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="confused.gif" border="0"> <img src="frown.gif" border="0">