Recommendations for cataract surgery lenses for flying

[teck48[_2_]]

I'm due for cataract surgery. Any good or bad experiences with lens implants for flying? Eye doc is recommending multi focus lenses (as opposed to mono focus). And a slightly different lens in each eye. Both multifocal, but dominant eye implant optimized for distance. Anyone have any experience? Thanks! –Tom

[Retting]

A few questions........age, type of flying you do...power,racing.
R

[gkemp]

That is just the type of cataract lenses I had and they were great for flying.
gkemp

[Dan Marotta]

I have single focus lenses and I have 20:10 distance vision.Â* I need
reading glasses for up close, however.

On 3/20/2018 10:28 AM, gkemp wrote:
> That is just the type of cataract lenses I had and they were great for flying.
> gkemp

--
Dan, 5J

[jfitch]

On Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at 8:51:21 AM UTC-7, teck48 wrote:
> I'm due for cataract surgery. Any good or bad experiences with lens implants for flying? Eye doc is recommending multi focus lenses (as opposed to mono focus). And a slightly different lens in each eye. Both multifocal, but dominant eye implant optimized for distance. Anyone have any experience? Thanks! –Tom

If you have not tried multifocal lenses, you may want to sample before you do something that is somewhat permanent. There are many multifocal contact lenses with different focal region strategies, I'd have the doctor recommend one similar to the lens and try it for a few days.

I have used multifocal contact lenses for a number of years and find that one in both eyes gives up more far vision than I would like. Multifocals trade far vision for near in general. Individuals adapt differently to these lenses, and some never adapt - that's why I'd say try before they cut.

[teck48[_2_]]

Thanks for the thoughts. I'm 65 and fairly active. I'm a hobby glider pilot.. And small dinghy sailor. I make videos and do a lot of computer and writing work.

I'm extremely near sighted but not astigmatic. I'm a fussy ******* about glasses, but once these replacement lenses are implanted it's a bit late to be fussy....

–Tom

[[email protected]]

I had cataract surgery 14 years ago in both eyes. Have mono focus lenses in both eyes. I wear bi-focals with essentially plain glass for far vision. I was myopic and my far vision is now 20/20. Being able to spot other gliders/aircraft quickly is obviously important in soaring. Sharp focus while assessing a field prior to an off-field landing also important to me. So, I'll opt for the acute far vision option and mono focus without the trade-offs. And yes, my sun glasses are bifocal too.

It would be good to hear from pilots with the multi-focus lenses in this forum too.

Chuck Zabinski

[[email protected]]

Cataract surgery increases the chance of retinal detachment. If the doctor says to wait a few weeks before flying, consider waiting a bit extra.

Raul Boerner

[Dan Marotta]

As I mentioned earlier, I use cheap reading glasses, the kind you get at
the grocery store pharmacy.Â* I have 7 pair in the house, car, garage,
hangar, etc.Â* I also have THESE
<https://www.amazon.com/Tifosi-Veloce-1040800186-Reading-Glasses/dp/B00EKERBU4/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1521586078&sr=1-1&nodeID=7141123011&psd=1&keywords=tifosi+bifocal>
sunglasses with clear vision lenses for distant vision and bifocal
readers built in.Â* I use them for driving and flying.Â* Very happy with them.

On 3/20/2018 3:22 PM, teck48 wrote:
> Thanks for the thoughts. I'm 65 and fairly active. I'm a hobby glider pilot. And small dinghy sailor. I make videos and do a lot of computer and writing work.
>
> I'm extremely near sighted but not astigmatic. I'm a fussy ******* about glasses, but once these replacement lenses are implanted it's a bit late to be fussy....
>
> –Tom

--
Dan, 5J

[jfitch]

On Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at 2:22:16 PM UTC-7, teck48 wrote:
> Thanks for the thoughts. I'm 65 and fairly active. I'm a hobby glider pilot. And small dinghy sailor. I make videos and do a lot of computer and writing work.
>
> I'm extremely near sighted but not astigmatic. I'm a fussy ******* about glasses, but once these replacement lenses are implanted it's a bit late to be fussy....
>
> –Tom

The multifocal contact lenses come with a prescription correction for far field vision, so they correct that at the same time. It should give you an idea of how your new lenses will work.

I wear one multifocal contact lens while flying or anytime I'm out and around. This lets me see the instrument panel, charts, phone, menu or whatever. My distance vision is still better than 20/20 with it in. The contact lens is a bit of a PITA (in, out, and care), so if I had cataracts I would do the multifocal lens replacement, but I'd shop carefully. I've tried about 5 different types of multifocal contacts, and some certainly worked better (for me) than others.

I've found a pair of sunglasses that I like for flying with or without the multifocal lens. The reason I like them over others I've tried is that the bifocal cheater can be ordered larger and higher than most (which covers the instrument panel better without the neck craning) and they are also available in gradient shading, which keeps from shading the instrument panel. They are available with a prescription correction if you need it.

https://flyingeyesoptics.com/product/hawk-convertible-non-rx-bifocal/

[Peter Whitehead]

The thread was regarding the possibility of using multi-focal INTRA-Ocular lenses at cataract surgery, not contact lenses.
I would suggest looking at the website www.allaboutvision.com and choose 'multifocal IOL's' to learn a bit more.
I am a family doctor, not an ophthalmologist, but as a glider pilot flying in the same sky as you, maybe one day, I might prefer that you opt for single focus lenses for distance vision. My understanding is that the clarity of distance vision is less good with multi-focal IOL's.
Good luck with your choice.

[Dan Marotta]

Well, I already have fixed lenses implanted, but I'm very curious about
how the multifocal lenses work.Â* Since they're fixed in your eye, it
seems to me that you don't shift your eyes up or down for distant or
near vision as you did when you were young and had flexible lenses in
your eyes.Â* So how does it work?Â* Do you need to train yourself
(accommodate) to the fact that near objects will focus high on the
retina and distant objects will be nearer to the center or bottom?Â* Is
it simply a matter of getting used to it and the brain does what it does
so well?

On 3/20/2018 7:21 PM, jfitch wrote:
> On Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at 2:22:16 PM UTC-7, teck48 wrote:
>> Thanks for the thoughts. I'm 65 and fairly active. I'm a hobby glider pilot. And small dinghy sailor. I make videos and do a lot of computer and writing work.
>>
>> I'm extremely near sighted but not astigmatic. I'm a fussy ******* about glasses, but once these replacement lenses are implanted it's a bit late to be fussy....
>>
>> –Tom
> The multifocal contact lenses come with a prescription correction for far field vision, so they correct that at the same time. It should give you an idea of how your new lenses will work.
>
> I wear one multifocal contact lens while flying or anytime I'm out and around. This lets me see the instrument panel, charts, phone, menu or whatever. My distance vision is still better than 20/20 with it in. The contact lens is a bit of a PITA (in, out, and care), so if I had cataracts I would do the multifocal lens replacement, but I'd shop carefully. I've tried about 5 different types of multifocal contacts, and some certainly worked better (for me) than others.
>
> I've found a pair of sunglasses that I like for flying with or without the multifocal lens. The reason I like them over others I've tried is that the bifocal cheater can be ordered larger and higher than most (which covers the instrument panel better without the neck craning) and they are also available in gradient shading, which keeps from shading the instrument panel. They are available with a prescription correction if you need it.
>
> https://flyingeyesoptics.com/product/hawk-convertible-non-rx-bifocal/

--
Dan, 5J

[Retting]

J Fitch was making a good suggestion to try multi-focal contacts BEFORE going under the knife. I tried multi-focal contacts and opted for mono-focal. I found the multi to be problematic, distracting. Distance vision field reduce. Flying Boeings and racing gliders, I wear tri-focals sunglasses ....Plano/1.0/2.0. 1.0 for the panel and 2.0 for the charts. Plano is no correction on top half of lense.
When I have cataract surgery, I will go with mono for the best possible distance vision. Since I always wear sunglasses, let those handle the ‘close in, reading’ issues.
Cheers,
R

[Michael Opitz]

At 14:09 21 March 2018, Retting wrote:
>J Fitch was making a good suggestion to try multi-focal contacts
BEFORE
>goi=
>ng under the knife. I tried multi-focal contacts and opted for
mono-focal.
>=
>I found the multi to be problematic, distracting. Distance vision
field
>red=
>uce. Flying Boeings and racing gliders, I wear tri-focals sunglasses
>....Pl=
>ano/1.0/2.0. 1.0 for the panel and 2.0 for the charts. Plano is no
>correcti=
>on on top half of lense.
>When I have cataract surgery, I will go with mono for the best
possible
>dis=
>tance vision. Since I always wear sunglasses, let those handle the
=E2=80=
>=98close in, reading=E2=80=99 issues.=20
>Cheers,
>R
>
Henry,

I tried the trifocals as my vision deteriorated with age, but I became
exasperated with the small field of view afforded by them for
intermediate and near vision. They effectively made me a "bobble-
head" because I had to turn my head to look through the small part
of the lens where the correction was. It was my AME who suggested
that I go to soft contact lenses for distant vision, while using bifocal
cheaters for the intermediate and near vision. That is what I wound
up doing. The intermediate field of view in a bifocal cheater is
around 70% of the glass area which is vastly increased from where
it is in a trifocal lens. I was always taught to move my eyes as
much as possible without moving my head in order to avoid spatial
disorientation. Using the bifocal cheaters allowed me to look at my
co-pilot's instruments while rolling down the runway without having
to move my head. Looking above the cheaters for distance vision
allows for totally normal distance vision. That is the system which I
still use today, and when I have to get cataract surgery, I will opt for
the best single vision distance correction that can be achieved (to
try and get me back close to the 20/10 vision of my youth) while
dealing with either bifocal or single vision cheaters, depending on
how good the accommodation of the implanted lens is.

FWIW....

RO

[[email protected]]

In multifocals different parts of the lens (e.g., concentric rings) focuses images from different distances onto the same part of the retina. This necessarily means less contrast (focused image superimposed on blurred image).. As I get older I seem to crave more contrast. Maybe that's why, when I tried multifocal contact lenses briefly, I didn't like them, and stuck with monofocal plus reading glasses. I use bifocal glasses over my contacts when flying.

See, e.g., here for more info:
http://www.allaboutvision.com/contacts/bifocals.htm

[[email protected]]

On Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 11:00:07 AM UTC-4, Michael Opitz wrote:
> ... I was always taught to move my eyes as much as possible
> without moving my head in order to avoid spatial disorientation. ...

I wonder about that claim. An instructor once got upset, for that reason, when I moved my head to look out to the side during the landing flare, to better estimate height above the runway. But I do that all the time when riding a bicycle (checking for traffic in all directions including behind me), and that has never caused any problem?

[Michael Opitz]

At 15:10 21 March 2018, wrote:
>On Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 11:00:07 AM UTC-4, Michael
Opitz wrote:
>> ... I was always taught to move my eyes as much as possible
>> without moving my head in order to avoid spatial disorientation.
...
>
>I wonder about that claim. An instructor once got upset, for that
reason,
>=
>when I moved my head to look out to the side during the landing
flare, to
>b=
>etter estimate height above the runway. But I do that all the time
when
>ri=
>ding a bicycle (checking for traffic in all directions including behind
>me)=
>, and that has never caused any problem?
>

That comes from my USAF fighter pilot days, and is especially
noticeable to me when pulling G's. I could give myself a pretty
severe case of SD if I snapped my neck/head while pulling some sort
of rolling G maneuver. It could even happen on a clear blue day. I
learned very early on to make slow and deliberate movements with
my head and neck, while moving my eyes quickly to see what I
needed to see. It is also applicable to transport aircraft in IFR
conditions, and will result in "the leans" or a false sense of where
the horizon actually is.

You don't get the G forces when riding your bicycle or during the
landing of your glider, and the visual cues from your eyes are
generally strong enough to override other inputs from your inner
ear's semi circular canals. It is when the visual cues are wrong
(slanted cloud deck, etc) that the sensory cues get scrambled -
which can lead to SD. The kind of SD that can be gotten when the
inner ear actually overrides the visual inputs can be extremely
disorienting to the point where one feels like you are tumbling, and
more...

RO

[Tango Whisky]

Le mercredi 21 mars 2018 17:00:08 UTC+1, Michael Opitz a écritÂ*:
> At 15:10 21 March 2018, wrote:
> >On Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 11:00:07 AM UTC-4, Michael
> Opitz wrote:
> >> ... I was always taught to move my eyes as much as possible
> >> without moving my head in order to avoid spatial disorientation.
> ..
> >
> >I wonder about that claim. An instructor once got upset, for that
> reason,
> >=
> >when I moved my head to look out to the side during the landing
> flare, to
> >b=
> >etter estimate height above the runway. But I do that all the time
> when
> >ri=
> >ding a bicycle (checking for traffic in all directions including behind
> >me)=
> >, and that has never caused any problem?
> >
>
> That comes from my USAF fighter pilot days, and is especially
> noticeable to me when pulling G's. I could give myself a pretty
> severe case of SD if I snapped my neck/head while pulling some sort
> of rolling G maneuver. It could even happen on a clear blue day. I
> learned very early on to make slow and deliberate movements with
> my head and neck, while moving my eyes quickly to see what I
> needed to see. It is also applicable to transport aircraft in IFR
> conditions, and will result in "the leans" or a false sense of where
> the horizon actually is.
>
> You don't get the G forces when riding your bicycle or during the
> landing of your glider, and the visual cues from your eyes are
> generally strong enough to override other inputs from your inner
> ear's semi circular canals. It is when the visual cues are wrong
> (slanted cloud deck, etc) that the sensory cues get scrambled -
> which can lead to SD. The kind of SD that can be gotten when the
> inner ear actually overrides the visual inputs can be extremely
> disorienting to the point where one feels like you are tumbling, and
> more...
>
> RO

Not much to do with vision.
The brain can resolve contradictive input from innera ear, seat pan and vision (and with beginners, typically for only limited time).

However, the brain *cannot* work with significant acceleration info from the inner ear around two different axes. If you turn your head rapidly to the side under g-load, you *will* loose spatial orientation.

Simple test: While standing, bend down around the waist and turn around your vertical axis 10 times as fast as you can. Then raise to normal position and start to run straight to some target. You will drop to the floor within 5 meters.

[jfitch]

On Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 12:32:22 AM UTC-7, Peter Whitehead wrote:
> The thread was regarding the possibility of using multi-focal INTRA-Ocular lenses at cataract surgery, not contact lenses.
> I would suggest looking at the website www.allaboutvision.com and choose 'multifocal IOL's' to learn a bit more.
> I am a family doctor, not an ophthalmologist, but as a glider pilot flying in the same sky as you, maybe one day, I might prefer that you opt for single focus lenses for distance vision. My understanding is that the clarity of distance vision is less good with multi-focal IOL's.
> Good luck with your choice.

While the thread is about IOLs, my suggestion is to try contacts with the same optics before you have your eyes cut.

Multifocal lenses come in a variety of optical strategies: center distance and peripheral near correction, center near and peripheral distance, several concentric rings, true aspheric, pinhole focus, etc. IOLs come in some variety too though maybe not as much. All of these work by casting two or more complete images on the retina. Your brain must sort through which to look at, and many people's brains do a remarkably good job of it. Some not so good. Among the complaints are blurry vision and bad night vision (halos around light sources). Another is that it isn't as good as a set of proper reading glasses for long term reading or computer work, and IOLs can't be removed and left on the vanity. Having IOLs put in without knowing whether your brain will adapt, or which multifocal strategy you or your brain prefer, is roulette. However you may adapt very well and love it, which is why I suggest trying it with contacts first.

Even with 2 multifocal contact lenses my vision is 20/20. A large number of pilots have worse vision than someone with a multifocal lens - it is an individual thing.

[Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)]

Yep, an "educated butt feel" can help.
Reminds me of "dark night upset training" for my private SEL ticket.
The CFI would have me let go of controls, he would mess up the aircraft, then say, "your plane!".
My butt told me what was going on.

Until, he figured out how I was doing so well. Then he did another test but was VERY careful doing about 180* from that and said, "your plane".
Yep, over the top, he grabbed the plane. I was relying on developed senses, NOT looking at the panel.
Sigh.
Good lesson for me.

Yanking your head around while pulling some G's and looking over your shoulder, maybe in rough air......it all adds up.

Yes, back on topic, getting older sucks. I still have good distance vision, but need correction for closer things.
I have prescription glasses for reading/computer, cheap glasses for "in your face" work like under a car dash.

I have heard of issues with LASIK, mostly in night situations. Seems to be an issue with "stars" in glare.
Any comments?

No, I have nothing meaningful for the original intent of this thread.
Sorry.

[John Carlyle]

One thing to keep in mind is that your eyes can change after cataract surgery. It's been four years since my surgery, and I've gone from 20/10 to 20/20 (from astigmatic changes). FWIW, I chose the fixed focus IO lenses.

-John

[[email protected]]

Thanks for the explanation RO. The instructor I mentioned was my instrument-airplane instructor. Funny, that instructor never objected to my moving my head around while under the hood or in the cloud, only when landing. Of course we weren't pulling many Gs in the 172.

[Michael Opitz]

At 17:25 21 March 2018, wrote:
>Thanks for the explanation RO. The instructor I mentioned was my
>instrumen=
>t-airplane instructor. Funny, that instructor never objected to my
moving
>=
>my head around while under the hood or in the cloud, only when
landing.
>Of=
> course we weren't pulling many Gs in the 172.
>
Getting the "leans" while IMC or under a hood can be somewhat
disconcerting, and it has killed people. (think JFK Jr) At least with the

"leans" you have control over your eyes and can focus on your
instruments to counter that form of SD. The other kind (occulagravic?
- I can't remember the exact name it was given in USAF physiology
classes) can be so bad that along with the violent tumbling sensations,
your eyes will also involuntarily twitch up and down uncontrollably.. If
you do that once to yourself while flying (and survive), you will be very
careful to not to do that to yourself ever again if you can avoid it.

Thread drift - yes, but it is the background to the vision choices I have
made which have served me well in the past, and it is one of the
reasons for the choices I will make when it comes time for cataract
replacement surgery, as I will in all probability want to continue flying
aircraft afterwards.

RO

[son_of_flubber]

How does the monovision approah https://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/caring-for-your-vision/contact-lenses/monovision

work out for pilots?

1.Does it degrade your scan for traffic on the side with close vision?

2.Does the associated degradation of depth perception affect your landings, or do you adapt after a short 'retraining period'?

[JB Gunner]

On Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 6:43:39 PM UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:
> How does the monovision approah https://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/caring-for-your-vision/contact-lenses/monovision
>
> work out for pilots?
>
> 1.Does it degrade your scan for traffic on the side with close vision?
>
> 2.Does the associated degradation of depth perception affect your landings, or do you adapt after a short 'retraining period'?

My understanding is mono vision contact lenses are not approved for flying by the FAA.

[Retting]

Well well well....I forgot a good nugget of info. I have “Spreadsheet� or “Bookkeeper “ lenses made for my reader glasses that provides a wider field of view.
Again, tri-focal with clear top half for distance over the panel/dashboard, next is 1.0 wide field that allow me to read the instrument panel including the FOs with little head movement, and 2.0 for reading maps and small print,etc.
I then have the Optician gradient dye the lenses Serengetti Amber approaching clear into the lower have.
Sweet Alabama , very happy and the amber contrast gliders nicely.
I also have a non-tint for night flying.
R

[Retting]

FAA......I have been wearing mono contacts for 45 years. My medical stipulates only that I wear corrective lenses for far and near vision.
Contacts plus bifocals equal corrected vision.
R

[JB Gunner]

On Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 8:02:15 PM UTC-4, Retting wrote:
> FAA......I have been wearing mono contacts for 45 years. My medical stipulates only that I wear corrective lenses for far and near vision.
> Contacts plus bifocals equal corrected vision.
> R

I think we communicated. Here is a reference from FAA 17-2021 FAA brochure on pilot vision.

A Word about Contact Lenses
Monovision contact lenses (one contact lens for distant vision and the other lens for near vision) make the pilot alternate his/her vision; that is, a person uses one eye at a time, suppressing the other, and consequently impairs binocular vision and depth perception. These lenses are not acceptable for piloting an aircraft.

[jfitch]

On Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 5:29:33 PM UTC-7, JB Gunner wrote:
> On Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 8:02:15 PM UTC-4, Retting wrote:
> > FAA......I have been wearing mono contacts for 45 years. My medical stipulates only that I wear corrective lenses for far and near vision.
> > Contacts plus bifocals equal corrected vision.
> > R
>
> I think we communicated. Here is a reference from FAA 17-2021 FAA brochure on pilot vision.
>
> A Word about Contact Lenses
> Monovision contact lenses (one contact lens for distant vision and the other lens for near vision) make the pilot alternate his/her vision; that is, a person uses one eye at a time, suppressing the other, and consequently impairs binocular vision and depth perception. These lenses are not acceptable for piloting an aircraft.

I've tried a mono vision contact lens, and thought it gave up quite a bit of far visual acuity. Of course a pilot can fly with just one eye, so again it depends. I know several pilots who have had monovision Lasik correction (one eye corrected for near vision).

[jfitch]

On Thursday, March 22, 2018 at 9:53:03 AM UTC-7, Dan Marotta wrote:
> But why would anyone do that when he can have perfect uncorrected
> distant vision and simply wear clear vision sunglasses with a bifocal
> reader built in.Â* Seems silly, or maybe just vain, to me to go through
> the suggested "alternatives".
>
> On 3/22/2018 10:08 AM, jfitch wrote:
> > I've tried a mono vision contact lens, and thought it gave up quite a bit of far visual acuity. Of course a pilot can fly with just one eye, so again it depends. I know several pilots who have had monovision Lasik correction (one eye corrected for near vision).
>
> --
> Dan, 5J

I agree with you for flying, when sunglasses might be necessary anyway, in the rest of life glasses are a serious pain in the ass.

[[email protected]]

Separately from the discussion about lenses, that FAA brochure is conflating binocular vision and depth perception in general. Binocular vision is just one of many ways that our eye-brain system perceives depth, and it is only effective up to a distance of 6 feet or so. It is not of much relevance to landing an aircraft.

[Dan Marotta]

On 3/22/2018 7:06 PM, jfitch wrote:
> On Thursday, March 22, 2018 at 9:53:03 AM UTC-7, Dan Marotta wrote:
>> But why would anyone do that when he can have perfect uncorrected
>> distant vision and simply wear clear vision sunglasses with a bifocal
>> reader built in.Â* Seems silly, or maybe just vain, to me to go through
>> the suggested "alternatives".
>>
>> On 3/22/2018 10:08 AM, jfitch wrote:
>>> I've tried a mono vision contact lens, and thought it gave up quite a bit of far visual acuity. Of course a pilot can fly with just one eye, so again it depends. I know several pilots who have had monovision Lasik correction (one eye corrected for near vision).
>> --
>> Dan, 5J
> I agree with you for flying, when sunglasses might be necessary anyway, in the rest of life glasses are a serious pain in the ass.
....And for those times, a pair of reading glasses suffices.Â* For me, at
least, my perfect vision begins just beyond the length of my arm and, to
read, I need glasses.Â* Of course it's different for others.
--
Dan, 5J

[jfitch]

On Friday, March 23, 2018 at 8:40:29 AM UTC-7, wrote:
> Separately from the discussion about lenses, that FAA brochure is conflating binocular vision and depth perception in general. Binocular vision is just one of many ways that our eye-brain system perceives depth, and it is only effective up to a distance of 6 feet or so. It is not of much relevance to landing an aircraft.

Lack of binocular vision didn't seem to bother Wylie Post.

[Michael Opitz]

At 05:19 24 March 2018, jfitch wrote:
>On Friday, March 23, 2018 at 8:40:29 AM UTC-7,
wrote:
>> Separately from the discussion about lenses, that FAA brochure is
>conflat=
>ing binocular vision and depth perception in general. Binocular vision
is
>=
>just one of many ways that our eye-brain system perceives depth,
and it is
>=
>only effective up to a distance of 6 feet or so. It is not of much
>relevan=
>ce to landing an aircraft.
>
>Lack of binocular vision didn't seem to bother Wylie Post.
>
We need an AME to weigh in on this one. I once flew with an airline
captain who had lost one eye and the hearing in one ear, but was
still flying as a captain with an FAA demonstrated ability waiver.

RO

[JB Gunner]

On Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 10:00:07 AM UTC-4, Michael Opitz wrote:
> At 05:19 24 March 2018, jfitch wrote:
> >On Friday, March 23, 2018 at 8:40:29 AM UTC-7,
> wrote:
> >> Separately from the discussion about lenses, that FAA brochure is
> >conflat=
> >ing binocular vision and depth perception in general. Binocular vision
> is
> >=
> >just one of many ways that our eye-brain system perceives depth,
> and it is
> >=
> >only effective up to a distance of 6 feet or so. It is not of much
> >relevan=
> >ce to landing an aircraft.
> >
> >Lack of binocular vision didn't seem to bother Wylie Post.
> >
> We need an AME to weigh in on this one. I once flew with an airline
> captain who had lost one eye and the hearing in one ear, but was
> still flying as a captain with an FAA demonstrated ability waiver.
>
> RO


the FAA website guide for AME clearly states:

the Examiner must counsel the applicant that use of contact
lens(es) for monovision correction is not allowed. The Examiner must note in Item 60 that this counseling has been given. Examples of unacceptable use include:

The use of a contact lens in one eye for near vision and in the other eye for distant vision (for example: pilots with myopia plus presbyopia).
The use of a contact lens in one eye for near vision and the use of no contact lens in the other eye (for example: pilots with presbyopia but no myopia)


I know there are medical exceptions given to those who may have restricted vision in one eye. But that would require a medical and a waiver issued by the FAA. We self certify. This is only a heads up to those who wish to have eye surgery to correct vision problems.

[[email protected]]

On Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at 9:51:21 AM UTC-6, teck48 wrote:
> I'm due for cataract surgery. Any good or bad experiences with lens implants for flying? Eye doc is recommending multi focus lenses (as opposed to mono focus). And a slightly different lens in each eye. Both multifocal, but dominant eye implant optimized for distance. Anyone have any experience? Thanks! –Tom

About a year an a half ago I had cataract surgery. At age 70 I decide that the clarity, distance and near of my vision was not what I wanted for flying and the ophthalmologist had been telling me I had cataracts. As a professional pilot I had used corrective glasses for at least 30 years but found those no longer gave me the field of vision I wanted to for soaring.
My research was inconclusive about multifocal lens implants. My wife had a bad experience with Lasik so the idea of two different lens did not excite me. I chose to have a TECNIS +3.25 implanted in my non dominant eye. I wanted 3 months during which I adjusted and experienced the new vision in that eye. Some haloing but the rest was impressive. Then I had the same lens implanted in the dominate eye.
Multifocal implants are relatively new. I based my choice on the prescription glasses I was using.

[teck48[_2_]]

Thanks to all who responded. Time for some research! –Tom

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Hi I have had cataracts surgery 7 months ago and have extended depth of focus lenses called Symfony. They are slightly different than multifocal lenses which gives one 2 focal points. The vision I have is more seamless without a dip in clarity between the 2 focal points of a multifocal lens. There is a trade off of choosing a multifocal or EDOF lens and that is your night vision. I do know for commercial pilots only standard monofocal lenses to replace cataracts is acceptable. The multifocal and EDOF lenses have more glare and nighttime visuals (for example I see concentric circles around certain light sources at night). This may not be a trade off some people want to get rid of glasses.

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Hi Peter - just responded to Tom above. The lenses I have are EDOF (extended depth of focus) Symfony IOLs. Many lump these into multifocal lenses group. Regardless of EDOF or multifocal the trade off is not clarity for distance (unless the power is off or there is astigmatism present). Trade off is the night vision. I would think pilots who fly at night would not want that compromise and those who fly commercially I have read are not permitted to select anything but a multifocal lens. with the Symfony lenses I have excellent vision during the day but starting at dusk I see concentric circles around certain light sources. At the beginning it was hard to drive at night. I have adapted but still don’t choose to drive long distances in unfamiliar areas at night.