Eye surgery/Corrected vision query
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: 6'1" AGL
Eye surgery/Corrected vision query
Hi, does anyone know if having corrective eye surgery/laser eye surgery to pass safely the CAA regs is allowed?
I have quite a bad astigmatism in my left eye which puts me outside the parametres - although I have recently become aware of surgery which can correct this at a cost. However my only goal of doing this is to pursue my CPL - which is a gamble if the regulations have not been confirmed in any way.
This has probably been queries many times but I can't seem to find any thread, nor can I find the correct info on the CAA website.
Thanks in advance - Dan
I have quite a bad astigmatism in my left eye which puts me outside the parametres - although I have recently become aware of surgery which can correct this at a cost. However my only goal of doing this is to pursue my CPL - which is a gamble if the regulations have not been confirmed in any way.
This has probably been queries many times but I can't seem to find any thread, nor can I find the correct info on the CAA website.
Thanks in advance - Dan
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Europe
Hi DB777,
Here's the link to the CAA website where you may find all necessary info regarding refractive surgery: http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/49/SRG_MED...isual_Stds.pdf
I was in your situation about a couple of years ago, when I learnt my severe binoccular astigmatism would be disqualifying me from being issued a Class 1 medical. However, I also learnt I could undergo laser eye treatment and have my eyes re-examined one year after surgery. From that day I undertook extensive research trying to find the best surgeon and the best operation method for me. Ultimately, I ended up in Zurich, Switzerland, where I had my eyes 'fixed' and until this day NO probs at all! My vision is absolutely perfect since and according to the docs much better than before the surgery. I reached 100% with glasses on either eye, post surgery 160% on the right and 125% on the left, all thanks to the new wavefront technology. By the way, the surgeon, who operated me, had developed this technology and had undertaken successfully the first refractive surgery ever. In other words, he had acquired enormous experience over the years, which was comforting me loads. This was also one of the reasons why I picked him as I didn't want some greenhorn fiddling around my eyes, possibly screwing me up for good.
A year post surgery I was examined at the AMC Cologne, Germany, and after some additional visual examinations and paper work I received my Class 1 a few months later in the post. As I read it, CAA allows examination already 3 months after surgery, provided a LASIK method has been implemented. So it's probably easier to obtain a Class 1 in the UK, even though a laser eye treatment was carried out. If you want to hear my advice, go for it, but make certain you do not fail any other of the test -- e.g. sufficient colour vision! -- before you put yourself under the laser.
If you need any further info just drop me a line: [email protected].
Best of luck!
Here's the link to the CAA website where you may find all necessary info regarding refractive surgery: http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/49/SRG_MED...isual_Stds.pdf
I was in your situation about a couple of years ago, when I learnt my severe binoccular astigmatism would be disqualifying me from being issued a Class 1 medical. However, I also learnt I could undergo laser eye treatment and have my eyes re-examined one year after surgery. From that day I undertook extensive research trying to find the best surgeon and the best operation method for me. Ultimately, I ended up in Zurich, Switzerland, where I had my eyes 'fixed' and until this day NO probs at all! My vision is absolutely perfect since and according to the docs much better than before the surgery. I reached 100% with glasses on either eye, post surgery 160% on the right and 125% on the left, all thanks to the new wavefront technology. By the way, the surgeon, who operated me, had developed this technology and had undertaken successfully the first refractive surgery ever. In other words, he had acquired enormous experience over the years, which was comforting me loads. This was also one of the reasons why I picked him as I didn't want some greenhorn fiddling around my eyes, possibly screwing me up for good.
A year post surgery I was examined at the AMC Cologne, Germany, and after some additional visual examinations and paper work I received my Class 1 a few months later in the post. As I read it, CAA allows examination already 3 months after surgery, provided a LASIK method has been implemented. So it's probably easier to obtain a Class 1 in the UK, even though a laser eye treatment was carried out. If you want to hear my advice, go for it, but make certain you do not fail any other of the test -- e.g. sufficient colour vision! -- before you put yourself under the laser.
If you need any further info just drop me a line: [email protected].
Best of luck!
Last edited by stefair; 31st August 2005 at 17:18.
