Laser Surgery

[Hoodabundy]

I know this should be under medical, but that area doesnt get a lot of views, so here it is. Do the airlines care if you have had laser surgery on your eyes. I am thinking about it but dont want to risk losing a job because of it. Any thoughts???? Does the FAA Doc's have the final say???

 

[bubbers44]

I just had Lasik eye surgery done on both eyes and went from 20/70 to 20/20 within two days. I retired three years ago so haven't needed my physical even though it is still good as a 2nd class, about to go to 3rd class so thought I would wait until 3 months after surgery to make sure they are stable then have my doctor complete the FAA form 8500-7 which I got a copy of over the internet. I believe you just go to FAA.gov then forms. You can call the FAA medical at 800 699 4457 to find out the latest. Most of what I have read says you either send in the form or just take another physical which in my case will no longer require glasses for far vision. Night vision glare sometimes causes problems for a while up to a year or so where you see halos around headlights, etc. I have a mild case which should go away. Good luck.

 

[Hoodabundy]

Thanks

 

[PUNISHER]

Night vison

I considered having the procedure done, but I have heard from several people that they experienced loss of night vision. Just wondering if anyone has had a similar side effect or knows of someone who has.

 

[AirBadger]

If you can watch this video without cringing and/or throwing up, you may be a candidate for laser eye surgery:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_TyKGiLt8Ls&search=laser

Warning: if you don't want to see an eye under surgery, don't click the above link.

 

[furloughfodder]

If you ever plan on working for a Japanese airline (JAL, NCA, ANA, etc.) you will not pass the JCAB medical. There might be other foreign airlines that have this requirement also, I don't know.

What about LASIK surgery?

LASIK is not an approved procedure for pilots licensed in Japan. If you have had LASIK surgery it is an automatic disqualifier for the medical license.
​

 

[PUNISHER]

If you can watch this video without cringing and/or throwing up, you may be a candidate for laser eye surgery:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_TyKGiLt8Ls&search=laser

Warning: if you don't want to see an eye under surgery, don't click the above link.

WOW, I can't wait for my turn!

 

[bubbers44]

It takes 30 seconds per eye. One minute of your life for good vision. No pain. I did it and wish I had done it years ago. Everybody else who has had it done feels the same way.

 

[Scube3]

Now I know why I didn't pass that medical at Nipon!!

Scube.

 

[bubbers44]

Scube 3,

Thank god for unanswered prayers. You won't regret not going there.

 

[Say Again Over]

Lasik

Went to Bangkok where they are using the most advanced laser, big clinic with about seven full time surgeons, very impressive facility. I went through a presurgical examination to see if I was a good candidate, the best candidate apparently is someone who is near sighted, this type person can be fixed to 20/20 near and far. I've always had perfect vision most of my life, near vision deteriorating in my forties, I opted for the mono vision, one eye is good for near, one for distance, sounds crazy but your brain works it out smoothly. On the day of surgery, they popped me a Valium and 15 minutes later brought me in, 20 minutes later I was finished. Takes a few weeks for your vision to stabilize but I could read my Nokia phone immediately, 6 days later I did a post operative exam, that's it sort of. One month later I went to an eye specialist for a complete exam for the FAA form, no problems for my First class.

My only side effect is sometimes I get dry eyes, like once a month, a couple eye drops, big deal, for people that are active, scuba diving, parachutist, sport bikers, I would highly recommend it. I have experienced NO night vision problems whatsoever, the best part was the $1,500 price tag, not per eye, TOTAL.

 

[Hoodabundy]

WOW 1500 per eye..... I guess I'll have to wait until I get out of the regional pay scale

 

[Say Again Over]

Look again, $1,500 total, plus the ticket to bangkok.:beer:

 

[skid]

A concern to consider is what will the long term effect be. Most likely you will still need glasses...reading or such...when you get older.

My brother had lasik in Jan of 2000. 20/400+ in each eye. Then and still now he has 20/10 and 20/15 in his eyes. I must admit I envy it, but am still scared to do it myself (his career is not as stringent as ours when it comes to eye problems)

 

[myq2u]

Mono vision for a pilot???

"I opted for the mono vision, one eye is good for near, one for distance, sounds crazy but your brain works it out smoothly."

SayAgainOver - I cannot find the reference anywhere right now but I could have sworn that about a year ago I read a statement on one of the FAA pages where it specifically said that "mono-vision was not approved for either pilots or ATC controllers.”

The way I understood it - mono vision gives you good far and near vision with the respective eye HOWEVER it diminishes your depth perception because you brain is no longer "comparing" images from both eyes, which is very critical for pilots and ATC.

So I'm confused, maybe they changed the requirements in the last year or so? Did your FAA doctor mention on the paperwork that you now have mono vision or did he/she just do a regular eye exam (which obviously you should be able to pass now?)

I'm truly not trying to upset you but I know that reference is there somewhere and it was the main reason why my best friend opted NOT to have the surgery about a year ago. Has anyone else seen that reference, anyone??? I hope I'm wrong and that you're right.

 

[Say Again Over]

mono vision

Don't get me wrong, I cannot fly with the mono vision, you are correct, I must correct my near vision eye (when at work) with a Focus Daily contact lens, that gives me 20/20 distance in both eyes, it also requires me to use reading glasses for small print. My strategy is that when I am not flying, it's total freedom from all glasses. The up side is that if I am not happy with mono vision I can correct the under corrected eye to be 20/20 distance vision like the other eye, in this case I will need reading glasses.

 

[Say Again Over]

By the way, for young pilots contemplating surgery, as you get older you can do additional corrections as you age.

 

[myq2u]

I see, now it makes more sense. I am still trying to find a link and once I do I’ll post it here.

From what I remember, if someone had a mono-vision type of surgery, whether RK, PRK or LASIC, there was a way to get approved to fly but you had to go through an additional vision exam and would be issued a special issuance waiver. Something you do not need with a regular RK, PRK or LASIC surgery (all you need then is an eye exam saying your vision is stable, no negative effects in night conditions, etc, and they’ll send you a letter saying that “you do meet 1st class medical criteria unless you experience any negative side effects in the future: blurred vision, halos, etc”)

With mono-vision, on top of that statement, you’re supposed to get a special “waiver” because in essence the FAA treats you as a “one-eyed pilot” when it comes to depth perception.

By the way, there are several one-eyed-pilots out there flying for the airlines, I think FedEx or UPS or maybe even both airlines have one, there’s one at Airtran, and supposedly one at Southwest as well but I cannot confirm that.

Personally I think it’s great because it proves that if one can prove to them that they can handle their duties safely they’re good to go. As opposed to the “top-gun” attitude of the 70’s and the 80’s, but that’s just my opinion.

 

[myq2u]

Re: Mono-vision

Found it!!!


I also called leftseat.com and they confirmed it:
it is OK to have mono-vision however:


- if it is achieved surgically an airman needs a SODA (Statement of Demonstrated Ability) to be attached to his/her file,


- if it is achieved with mono-vision contact lenses only the faa will not allow it period. (FAA is looking into approving special lenses in the future though).


My friend decided to postpone his mono-vision surgery based on his findings, it's OK and it will be approved however technically you're NOT supposed to fly for at least 6 months after a mono-vision surgery!!! [ read below] (I know it sounds crazy and no one follows those rules but...)


http://www.aviationmedicine.com/articles/index.cfm?fuseaction=printVersion&articleID=62

Contact Lens Authorization by the FAA



Pilots and controllers wearing glasses or contact lenses must meet all of the FAA vision standards. Those requiring near and distant correction may do this with either bifocals worn all the time or wearing contact lenses that correct for distant and having reading glasses available for near vision.
Some contact lens manufacturers and eye specialists are touting the advantages of Mono Vision Contact Lenses (MVCL) to eliminate the need for glasses without surgery. The MVCL technique uses one contact lens to focus at near while the lens in the other eye focuses at distant. The pilot suppresses the blurred image from the eye not in use depending on the distance of the viewed object. The FAA continues to prohibit the use of MVCL’s because each eye does not correct to 20/20 at distant and 20/40 at near separately. Because both eyes are not simultaneously focusing on an object at distant, the binocular component of depth perception may be reduced. Many other monocular cues to depth perception, such as shadows, relative size, motion parallax, contrast and texture gradient still exist when using MVCL. These monocular cues are susceptible to illusions in a visually compromised environment, such as reduced lighting or weather. The FAA will only allow monovision correction if induced surgically (see our article on refractive surgery) though it does require at least a six months adjustment period before returning to flying. After that time, the FAA will most likely require a medical flight test and subsequent Statement of Demonstrated Ability (SODA) to remove restrictions. Currently controllers are not authorized any method of monovision correction.
In the Fall of 2005, the FAA approved the use of the newer multifocal contact lenses that correct at distant in the central portion while correcting for near vision at the periphery. This arrangement works fine when looking down at something to read, but blurs images in the periphery on lateral and upward gaze, particularly in low light conditions. The specifics are obtained in the FAA protocol for multifocal lenses in our Information Resource center. Applicants must allow 1 month for adaptation before returning to aviation related duties, must be free from any vision defects, and must meet FAA vision standards.

 

[Say Again Over]

This appears to target an individual trying to fly with mono vision, I am not, my medical certificate clearly states that I must use corrective lens, there is no need to demonstrate ability the way I am doing it, before I go to work I am popping in a one day contact in my r/h eye, after work I throw it away, the FAA required a thorough evaluation and their form filled out after vision stabilization, I did this 30 days after surgery without any problems.

 

[myq2u]

“This appears to target an individual trying to fly with mono vision”

Well, you’re probably right I’m not a professional in this field. But wouldn’t it be sort of like saying “this targets someone who had LASIC and is trying to fly with it?” I mean, a person either had a surgery or he/she didn’t? A person either has mono-vision or he/she doesn’t? How you correct for the mono-vision is a different story, but without corrective lenses you now DO have mono-vision, correct?

Therefore, the way it was explained to me a SODA for someone with your type of surgery would simply state that you have a mono-vision when uncorrected and that you correct it with a lens on one eye while flying. That’s all SODA would say. Again, that's what they told me, I am just curious more than anything, and I am really glad this is working for you.


“the FAA required a thorough evaluation and their form filled out after vision stabilization, I did this 30 days after surgery without any problems.”

Correct, the exam you went through is the post RK, PRK and LASIC evaluation; everyone that had one of those surgeries must complete it.

This is however NOT a mono-vision exam as they use mainly depth perception tests and not so much vision tests for this evaluation. (that’s what I was told yesterday by one of the eye specialists at leftseat.com)

Either way, the only thing that matters is that it is working for you and that you got great vision now!

 

[Say Again Over]

Well I compare it to an actual person who has vision in one eye, he must demonstrate ability, it's only seems logical that as long as I correct my vision for flying, I need no demonstrated ability, it would be nice if an AME would pipe in here and tell us how it is, thanks for your information, don't want to get in trouble.