Major airlines and Laser Eye Surgery

[TNHillbilly]

If I was getting ready to interview with a major and have just had lasik will it affect me at all? I heard a rumor that some airlines want you to have had it for several years or something like that. I haven't gotten the surgery yet but I was thinking about it. I would also love commments from people who have had it and any issues they have had. Thanks.

 

[blzr]

If I was getting ready to interview with a major and have just had lasik will it affect me at all? I heard a rumor that some airlines want you to have had it for several years or something like that. I haven't gotten the surgery yet but I was thinking about it. I would also love commments from people who have had it and any issues they have had. Thanks.

Have you, or are you going to tell your Medical examiner? that should be your first step, and worry about the interview second.

 

[CitationLover]

got it Jan 01'. still 20-15. no one needs to know you got it except your AME (and they would have a hard time telling you got the surgery without knowing), but it shouldn't affect you at all at any airline. it is a disqual from military flying though.

the biggest drawback to it is dry eyes, but it isn't that bad. besides its a great excuse to sleep for a day after the surgery.

 

[Whiskerbizkit]

How about getting the job first, then get the lasiks. They cant do anything to you once your hired.

 

[TheBaron]

I waited till my probation year was up. Actually two years because it took me an extra year to catch up from 1st year pay. Best decision I have ever made. I'm reading 3 on the 20/10 line and everything on the 20/15. I haven't had any problems with dry eyes (maybe the first few weeks), in fact, my eyes feel 100x better than when I wore contacts for 16 hours at a time. My night vision has improved greatly; no halos at all. I had the completely bladeless lasik done, called Intralase. It was more expensive but I didn't want to trust my vision to the lowest bidder.

 

[Lear70]

Got it in January of 1994, out of country, before it was legal here (FDA keeps stuff tied up FOREVER).

No dry eyes, nothing until about a year ago and my vision started getting worse again.

Was 20/20, now down to 20/30. Doc says that's normal in some cases. Can still pass the FAA Class 1 but only barely, had to buy my first pair of glasses for the first time in over a decade (vision gets worse when I'm tired and I need 'em).

Interestingly enough, I applied for a military helo position and had the vision check from hell with a military doctor on base up in Ft. Campbell.

He couldn't tell I'd had it done. Never mentioned it to them. Ended up not taking the slot, but after a year or two it's not detectable.

p.s. I'm at a major. Wasn't on the app. Didn't say anything about it.

 

[timetoquit]

Anyone have PRK done?

 

[bubbers44]

I had Lasik done about 8 months ago after I retired and am very happy with the results. I had some haloes but not to affect flying or driving and no dryness after a few weeks. Follow up exam is at the end of the month. Being over 60 of course I need reading glasses but they seem very stable now and have been for a long time so will probably get a pair of progressive glasses like I had when flying to use when I need to see everything from 6 inches to 3 feet like you need in the cockpit. I am going to see about those transition lenses too because I need sun protection too but don't want two pair of corrected lenses.

Don't do the surgery before you get the job. If you go through the FAA you will probably have to fill out a Form 8500-7 which the Eye Dr submits. If you just do it without documenting it on your next physical you risk being charged with falsifying your medical data some time in the future. It could be time consuming dealing with the FAA. I am not making a living flying any more so even though I have the form I probably won't bother with it. The Baron probably can tell you what he went through.

 

[TNHillbilly]

Thanks for all the replies. I have not had it done yet, but i have not been able to wear my contacts because of discomfort...mostly seasonal allergies i think...and I am so sick of my glasses. I have really bad vision, my contacts are -7.5 and -6.25 so obviously I can't fly without correction. Anyone have the surgery that had really bad vision? Also has anyone gone to Canada to get it done??? I had a non pilot friend get it done in Canada and it was less expensive and he was perfectly happy with the results and the level of experience that the lasik center had. Will having it done out of country affect your medical???

 

[LaidOffAgain]

Thanks for all the replies. I have not had it done yet, but i have not been able to wear my contacts because of discomfort...mostly seasonal allergies i think...and I am so sick of my glasses. I have really bad vision, my contacts are -7.5 and -6.25 so obviously I can't fly without correction. Anyone have the surgery that had really bad vision? Also has anyone gone to Canada to get it done??? I had a non pilot friend get it done in Canada and it was less expensive and he was perfectly happy with the results and the level of experience that the lasik center had. Will having it done out of country affect your medical???

Had it done at the Windsor Laser Eye Institute(Dr Tafor? sp) in 2003 and still 20/15. Was 3k but lifetime enhancements. So when the eyes go as I grow older, I can go back and get the same treatment as I had. Or if there are better procedures now available I just pay the difference for the better procedure. So great deal and this guy is a pioneer in Laser surgery. Don't mind being withouth glasses. I was about -2.5 in each eye. Good luck. LOA

 

[Dumb Pilot]

Is a disqualifier in some airlines abroad, In case you are considering contract work.

 

[LetsGoBuffs]

Anyone have PRK done?

yes. oct of 1995. beacon eye institute in toronto, canada.

20/15 for years. now somewhere between 20/20 and 20/25....

 

[ultrapilot]

Had Lasik done also

I had the top of the line Lasik done in October 05' and still have 20/15 vision. The problem was that I was near sighted and did not need glasses for reading and now I have to have "reading glasses". They are drug store 1.0 glasses so that is not much but I would have had to have them anyway because of age. The point is that you may still need glasses after the surgery. You might be able to get 20/20 and not need glasses but not have sharp distant vision or get something else and need glasses. Ask the Doc.

I get occasional dry eyes when it is late and I am tired but otherwise I enjoy not having to take a pair of glasses into the movie theater just to see a clear picture and the perk is that I can wear regular sunglasses.

Notified the FAA via my last flight physical and that makes everything okay according to their rules.

My advice is to go get a FREE consultation to see if you are even a candidate for Lasik. Not everyone can have Lasik because of your cornea. If the lens is to thin you can not have it done. First things first will make your decision easier.... find out if you can even have it done then go from there.

Good luck,

 

[ERJFO]

I waited till my probation year was up. Actually two years because it took me an extra year to catch up from 1st year pay. Best decision I have ever made. I'm reading 3 on the 20/10 line and everything on the 20/15. I haven't had any problems with dry eyes (maybe the first few weeks), in fact, my eyes feel 100x better than when I wore contacts for 16 hours at a time. My night vision has improved greatly; no halos at all. I had the completely bladeless lasik done, called Intralase. It was more expensive but I didn't want to trust my vision to the lowest bidder.

Did you have halos at night before?

 

[Lear70]

I was 20/350 in one eye and 20/400 in the other (barely legal limit for Class 1 medical) when I had it done.

I don't know what that works out to in the other measurement, but it was pretty d*mn bad...

The whole "lifetime enhancement" thing sounds pretty cool... Got a name and number to refer to the board? Would make for a good search tool later on for other people curious about the same thing.

 

[better up here]

I went to 'the best' doctor in Phoenix about two years ago and he won't perform it on pilots. Says he did a guy that developed night halos and it ended his career. The guy sued, and he settled out of court. He told me the possibility is there, and for a person that does not rely on night vision the way we do, no big deal. Changed my mind.

Not trying to scare anyone, but make sure you ask all the right questions, and all the right doctors.

 

[bubbers44]

The possibility of Lasik ending my career was the reason I waited until sick time could carry me to retirement. It is a very small risk but consider how it would affect your life if it happened. I ended up retiring 6 months early because of the lump sum payout so did it after retirement.

 

[AV80R]

I had the top of the line Lasik done in October 05' and still have 20/15 vision. The problem was that I was near sighted and did not need glasses for reading and now I have to have "reading glasses".

I'm sure you've had enough of surgeries by now, but just so you know, there is a surgery for your condition (needing reading glasses) nowadays. It's called CK. Haven't had it myself as I don't need reading glasses but a friend did and he said that for the first time in more than a decade he doesn't need any reading glasses at all. It's also FAA approved.

Here is a link with some info: 1 & 2

I'm still waiting for the X-ray Vision Lasik surgery

 

[tyler24]

i had it done three years ago and consider it one of the best decisions i have ever made. Do your research on the equipment used and dont fall for the used car salesmen techniques

 

[AV80R]

i had it done three years ago and consider it one of the best decisions i have ever made. Do your research on the equipment used and dont fall for the used car salesmen techniques

Which one? Lasik, PRK, RK, CK, Prebyopia Lasik, Lasek???

 

[tyler24]

Lasik, i dont remember the name of the laser though i would have to dig out the paperwork that is deep in storage. I had it done in Dallas and drove home 200 miles the next day. Just had a yearly checkup last month and my vision is 20-20 in one eye and 20-15 in the other. I can no longer take my glasses off when im with my wife to make her look good.. therefore she uses a paperbag now

 

[bubbers44]

T24 better hope his wife doesn't see that. I am going to ask my Dr. about the CK thing to correct for near vision when I do my Lasik check this month. If he thinks it will not affect what he did I might do it. Does anybody know if the median range, 1 to 15 ft is corrected? I assume it does. I notice now my left eye works best at distance and right closer in. I had both corrected to far vision but really don't want to do an adjustment unless it will make a noticeable difference and go through the same thing again.

 

[HighNightFlyer]

I know a doctor that performs these surgeries. He is a candidate for Lasik but won't have it done to himself. His career is over if anything get screwed up. It always happens to someone.

HNF

 

[JediNein]

Dr. Schuler in KBFL did it on his co-worker, another ophthalmologist.