Laser Eye Correction question
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: USA
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Laser eye surgery vs work in Asia?
Is there someone out there who has actually interviewed/worked for any >Japanese< carrier that can assist me with a (vision improvement type) laser eye surgery question?
Please know I have already read all that I can locate on this website. (I have read a few posts that leaned towards saying that this procedure is not permitted in Japan) I then took the extra step of writing two of the broker agencies that have been around for a long time. An established person at Wasinc said this procedure is prohibited by the Japanese Gov’t.
But to confuse the issue further a senior Asia person at Rishworth wrote me that an applicant can succeed when applying to a Japanese carrier but reminded me of the necessary steps, ie that one must disclose this on the front end, bring one’s existing home country aviation Medical Certificate and bring the before and after eye measurements from the Dr who performed the surgery. So, from the employment offices that should know, I have received two answers that contradict one another.
In a nutshell,
1 can a pilot successfully obtain a Japanese Gov’t airline pilot’s Level medical if they are healthy in all areas but have previously had successful Laser eye surgery (to improve their vision)? I know radial keratonamy won’t passed, but if they do permit it does the Japanese Gov’t distinguish with a thumbs up/down between PRK and Lasik?
2 If the Japanese Gov’t permits it, does it end up being a de facto item of not getting hired cause no actual Airline in Japan will offer employment to a pilot who has had this?
3 And while we are on this topic, might you happen to know if Laser eye surgery for vision improvement is permitted in
Korea
Singapore
Malaysia
China
I appreciate whatever info you can passed along. I don’t mind filling out all the various applications but I would like to avoid spending the time barking up the wrong tree if this is a No Go item in certain countries. I imagine your answer will help out a good number of pilots out on this website. Thanks.
Please know I have already read all that I can locate on this website. (I have read a few posts that leaned towards saying that this procedure is not permitted in Japan) I then took the extra step of writing two of the broker agencies that have been around for a long time. An established person at Wasinc said this procedure is prohibited by the Japanese Gov’t.
But to confuse the issue further a senior Asia person at Rishworth wrote me that an applicant can succeed when applying to a Japanese carrier but reminded me of the necessary steps, ie that one must disclose this on the front end, bring one’s existing home country aviation Medical Certificate and bring the before and after eye measurements from the Dr who performed the surgery. So, from the employment offices that should know, I have received two answers that contradict one another.
In a nutshell,
1 can a pilot successfully obtain a Japanese Gov’t airline pilot’s Level medical if they are healthy in all areas but have previously had successful Laser eye surgery (to improve their vision)? I know radial keratonamy won’t passed, but if they do permit it does the Japanese Gov’t distinguish with a thumbs up/down between PRK and Lasik?
2 If the Japanese Gov’t permits it, does it end up being a de facto item of not getting hired cause no actual Airline in Japan will offer employment to a pilot who has had this?
3 And while we are on this topic, might you happen to know if Laser eye surgery for vision improvement is permitted in
Korea
Singapore
Malaysia
China
I appreciate whatever info you can passed along. I don’t mind filling out all the various applications but I would like to avoid spending the time barking up the wrong tree if this is a No Go item in certain countries. I imagine your answer will help out a good number of pilots out on this website. Thanks.
I just had emergency laser surgery to correct a torn retina a month ago. (Layman's explanation: The vitreous gel between the cornea and retina had come free, floating around. This tugged on the edge of the retina. Bleeding caused a large floater, like looking through a jellyfish, or cobwebs.) By good fortune, a standard eye exam ended with a referral to a top retinal specialist. He did laser surgery on the spot, within 30 minutes. I was told that the surgery was quite successful because of my immediate reaction to the vision obscuration. (By the way, I didn't recognize the first symptom, which was a flashing in the outer corner of my eye. I was told that was when the retina was being tugged upon. If you see flashers, get an exam NOW. Time is of the essence.) This has nothing to do with the thread topic, but could be quite germane to a CPL's livelihood.
This specialist had been in pilot training previously, so appreciated my urging not to butcher my eyesight. During the followup, I asked his opinion on corrective laser surgery, which he does not offer. He is against it, due to the risk of complications. His stance is not to potentially harm an eye that is working. He also stated that the corrective surgeons will promote their services, not agreeing with him. It's their livelihood, afterall. As much as I dislike the glasses I've worn since 7 years old, I think I'll stay with them. At least I can fly. I'm not yet a CPL, but the FAA will allow my lousy vision corrected by lenses, which is 20/15 now.
This specialist had been in pilot training previously, so appreciated my urging not to butcher my eyesight. During the followup, I asked his opinion on corrective laser surgery, which he does not offer. He is against it, due to the risk of complications. His stance is not to potentially harm an eye that is working. He also stated that the corrective surgeons will promote their services, not agreeing with him. It's their livelihood, afterall. As much as I dislike the glasses I've worn since 7 years old, I think I'll stay with them. At least I can fly. I'm not yet a CPL, but the FAA will allow my lousy vision corrected by lenses, which is 20/15 now.
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It may be productive to investigate multifocal contact lenses. I have worn rigid gas permeable multifocal contacts for decades and now at almost age 70 I have corrected vision to 20/15 and have no need for supplemental eyeglasses for reading or other purposes. FAA has no problem with these for CPL/Class 2 med cert. Not sure how this would work for ATPL or airline requirements, and outside the U.S. My uncorrected vision is something like 20/200 and as a result have worn some form of correction since a child. Switched to contacts in 1967 and never looked back. Have been able to get a much better correction than with eyeglasses, and the lifestyle improvement is huge. Not all folks tolerate contacts well, but if you can, you can have most of the benefits of surgery with little of the downside. I do carry back up eyeglasses when I fly but in 46 years of flying, have never needed them (for flying or any other purpose).
Over the years, I have considered various forms of surgical vision correction, however my AME has consistently advised against this approach.
Over the years, I have considered various forms of surgical vision correction, however my AME has consistently advised against this approach.
Last edited by EN48; 31st Jul 2012 at 01:59.
