20/25 Vision and 1st Class medical

[CommStudent]

Hi

My distant vision can only be corrected to 20/25, I've been through several optometrists and optalmologists, and I always get the same results. It apears the problem is internal to the eye and not in the retina and therfore corrective lenses dont bring my vision to 20/20.

I currently have a 3rd class medical which I obtained some 2 years ago. My question is, is there any possibility to obtain a 1st class despite the 20/20 requirement. How about obtaining a SODA, I did some research about this and could not determine under which conditions you can get a SODA.

Any info would be appreciated as I am currently contemplating a career change and would hate to make the wrong decision.

 

[mattpilot]

1st & 2nd "must" be correctable to 20/20. Third class is 20/40.

However, they do issue wavers. THere are guys flying with only one eye and also colorblind people.

I'm not sure if they would make an exception for a first class medical, but i'm pretty confident that they will issue you a waiver for a second Class. Though i believe the wait time (and pre application) is about 4 months <- each time you apply.

As for you gkrangers <- if your planning on going commercial, you should of gotten a 1st class medical the first time around just to see if your actually fit (only costs ~5 bucks more). Though i'm pretty sure you could get a waiver too.

 

[mattpilot]

LASIK is NOT an option.

Lasik is not a time proven technology. The doctor explained to me, that the technology is not old enough for them to tell, what will happen 20 or 30 or 40 years after the operation. Not all side effects are fully known. Also, many lasik patients have to go back under the laser to have periodic 'fixes'.

Don't expect to get a flying job with LASIK done (although i heard some did).

Anyhow gkrangers - its always a good idea to go get your vision checked before you go to the AME. You wouldn't want him to fail you for not having updated corrective lenses. A failed medical is a scar your potential employers will see.

 

[Jedi_Cheese]

As for you gkrangers <- if your planning on going commercial, you should of gotten a 1st class medical the first time around just to see if your actually fit (only costs ~5 bucks more). Though i'm pretty sure you could get a waiver too.

I don't know if that is necessarly good advice (even if it is the rule given to all new pilots). This is especially true if you aren't in perfect health and aren't 100% shure you will pass. It is better to get a 3rd class medical, pass, and find out on the side if you could get a 1st than to fail a 1st class medical for something stupid. After the first time, you will learn all the 'tricks' and then pass much easier.

I would have failed a 1st class medical b/c I didn't have the eyesight the first time I took the test (glasses were a year or two old and very dirty). We did all the tests though for a 1st and he told me that had I had 20/20 vision, I would have passed it. Plus I found out the eyesight machine has a light in it and the light can burn out. The nurse that gave me the test was wondering how I drove to the office with that bad of vision... My night vision is good, but not that good

 

[mattpilot]

Hmm... I do believe AME's give you the lower 'class' if you don't meet the criteria for the one you applied for.

Anyhow, While we are on the subject of Vision, Does ANYONE know what the accuracy has to be on the vision test? I just had my first class renewed today, and i know i messed up on one or two letters, but still passed. So how many out of those letters do you have to 'guess' correctly ?

 

[Jedi_Cheese]

Hmm... I do believe AME's give you the lower 'class' if you don't meet the criteria for the one you applied for.

Never heard of that one. Course, if you get the AME that Snakum had...

 

[CommStudent]

So did you end up getting the 1st class ??

I don't know if that is necessarly good advice (even if it is the rule given to all new pilots). This is especially true if you aren't in perfect health and aren't 100% shure you will pass. It is better to get a 3rd class medical, pass, and find out on the side if you could get a 1st than to fail a 1st class medical for something stupid. After the first time, you will learn all the 'tricks' and then pass much easier.

I would have failed a 1st class medical b/c I didn't have the eyesight the first time I took the test (glasses were a year or two old and very dirty). We did all the tests though for a 1st and he told me that had I had 20/20 vision, I would have passed it. Plus I found out the eyesight machine has a light in it and the light can burn out. The nurse that gave me the test was wondering how I drove to the office with that bad of vision... My night vision is good, but not that good

 

[Jedi_Cheese]

So did you end up getting the 1st class ??

Nope, I wasn't good for the 1st class at the time (the eyesight problem) and haven't needed a medical since (3 years is a long time).

Got the glasses re-checked a month ago (corrected both eyes to 15/20) and I will take the 1st class test after I get my commercial this winter. I have no clue why I had the problems with the eyesight part because my optomostrist (sp?) said the glasses would have corrected me to 20/20.

 

[GreazerGriff7]

I had LASIK done about 15 months ago with the new wavefront technology. I was about 20/500 uncorrected in both eyes, but still correctable to 20/20 before the procedure. Right now I am 20/15 in both eyes with no correction.... however I dont think my results are real typical, although others have had great results as well.

 

[mattpilot]

@Greazer

What did your AME say about LASIK? Did he give you a Class II or above? The two AME's i've spoken too have both discoureged getting LASIK if i'm planning on going commercial.

 

[Snakum]

I do believe AME's give you the lower 'class' if you don't meet the criteria for the one you applied for.

Most definitely not ... unfortunately. Ask any AME and they'll tell ya they're not allowed to. I know ... cuz I tried that.

Minhberg

 

[GreazerGriff7]

I haven't been to an AME since the procedure... however if you don't tell them you had LASIK then they are really never going to know. The only way any one can actually tell if the LASIK procedure has been done is by examining the topography of the cornea, which I dont even think is done on a first class medical. The only one that would ever know you had LASIK done is your optometrist.

 

[mattpilot]

correct... but that would be lying And if they did find out, you'll probably never get an ATP license. 61.153 (c)

However, this wouldn't work for someone who already has a prior medical with the "must wear corrective lenses" restriction on it. The AME would notice that your vision got better in "unexplained circumstances" and thus deny a medical. And trust me, you never want to tell your AME you had any medical condition that was "unexplainable". Best to keep those things secret (i do ). I also told my family members that if for some reason i fainted or something else happened, to make up some reasonable story that can be easily explained (incase of hospitalization). Wouldn't want to lose my own medical

Also, assuming you believe in God, and your eyesight got 'miraculously' better, this would fall under the category of "medically unexplained circumstances" and you'd probably have trouble getting a medical. Why? Because the rational behind this is, just as suddenly as you got your eyesight back, it can go away again.

This is how it was explained to me from my AME.

 

[wrxpilot]

LASIK is NOT an option.

Lasik is not a time proven technology. The doctor explained to me, that the technology is not old enough for them to tell, what will happen 20 or 30 or 40 years after the operation. Not all side effects are fully known. Also, many lasik patients have to go back under the laser to have periodic 'fixes'.

Don't expect to get a flying job with LASIK done (although i heard some did).

Anyhow gkrangers - its always a good idea to go get your vision checked before you go to the AME. You wouldn't want him to fail you for not having updated corrective lenses. A failed medical is a scar your potential employers will see.

That is completely false. Many people that have undergone Lasik have "flying jobs". Everything from charter to airlines. Stop perpetuating a stupid myth. You cannot correct your eyes w/ surgery and fly for the US military, but I hear that may change.

 

[mattpilot]

Stop perpetuating a stupid myth

Sorry 'bout that... but if i hear that from my AME, then what should i do? Argue with him?

I don't suppose you have a reference for that? I've always wanted LASIK but once i got into flying and heard what the AME told me, i let it drop.

 

[GreazerGriff7]

I will have to agree with wrx... I think you are getting some false info from AMEs regarding the procedure...

Check out
http://www.aviationmedicine.com/lasik.htm
http://www.locateadoc.com/articles.cfm/372/137
http://www.leftseat.com/eye_surgery.htm


After wearing glasses since I was 7 years old (luckily my dad is an optometrist), having successful LASIK was a great blessing. For a month after the procedure I would still wake up and roll over in bed reaching for my non-existant glasses on the table.
http://www.aviationmedicine.com/lasik.htm

 

[Snakum]

Thought I'd add what little I know about Lasik: I read that the American Airlines/Eagle physical catches whether or not you've had it, but donno about others.

Also, I read an article in 2001 in one of my GFs (at the time) medical journals that a US Air pilot had Lasik surgury and afterwards was bothered by reduced night-vision and halo effects at night. More importantly, the article went on to say that he flunked his Class 1 the next time it came up, and has subsequently sued the surgeon.

Just thought I'd mention it ....

Minh

 

[ustillflyin]

Lasik

Errr,
O.K. I'm a newbie here so be gentle.
But, I have actually spoken to a rep of the Aeromedical dept.
and the only requirements regarding LASIK is if your getting
the monocular correction (one eye far sight and one eye near)
then you need to be stable visually for 6 months.

I actually have had this procedure, I am now 20/20 from 20/800
and I hold a first class medical (taking my COMM test this month)
my Second class AME said that LASIK was not acceptable to the FAA
However my First class AME said that it wasn't a problem so long as
your optometrist certifies that you are "fully healed" from the procedure.

So naturally I checked it out for myself with Oklahoma.

 

[mattpilot]

gkrangers:

The USAF says non fighter pilots that fly under 14,000MSL cabin altitude can get LASIK.

"Cabin Altitude" means the pressure inside the aircraft. Standard for Commercial airliners is usually 8000ft MSL.

I'm not positive on how the military and its aircrafts work, but i'm assuming they got fully pressurized aircraft? Or at least the cockpit is pressurized. No?


@snakum & ustillflyin

Thanks for pointing that out... now i'm even more confused on what is now acceptable