LASIK eye surgery and 3rd class medical

[Nick Funk]

Is LASIK approved procedure for third class medical?
Sooner or later, I might have LASIK (wavefront) done to my left eye for
correcting vision problems. But if it causes problem with maintaining a
third class medical, I will just stick with my glasses.

Any information is greatly appreciated!
Nick

[LWG]

I had LASIK on both eyes for nearsightedness. I have never had any problems
with getting a 3rd class medical because of it. There is a little more
paperwork your AME will want, such as records from the opthamologist. I
think there was also a form for the opthamologist to fill out, but it's been
about 5 years. This is only a one-time thing. Once I got my first medical
after the LASIK, repeat medicals just involved eye testing using the charts.

Les

"Nick Funk" > wrote in message
...
> Is LASIK approved procedure for third class medical?
> Sooner or later, I might have LASIK (wavefront) done to my left eye for
> correcting vision problems. But if it causes problem with maintaining a
> third class medical, I will just stick with my glasses.
>
> Any information is greatly appreciated!
> Nick

[Dave S]

Check the AOPA website for details.

You will need a letter from the surgeon stating that you are free of
permanent side effects such as halos, starring, etc. (there is some
boilerplate language on the AOPA website). Here is the kicker:
immediately post op you will probably HAVE some side effects and they
resolve as you heal. What makes them permanent is IF they go away.

Does that sound like a gamble? Well, the key to it is being screened
properly so that you are an ideal candidate: cornea is thick enough,
your pupils do not dilate beyond the size of the "zone of correction"
that the machine is FDA approved for, etc.. You want a surgeon who will
tell you if you are a good candidate or not, NOT someone who will take
your money.

When i had mine over 4 years ago, I self grounded for a week or two, and
once i was clear of all issues, the surgeon signed off on the text that
I provided for him to place on his letterhead. I then mailed off the
stuff to OKC, and I provided a copy for review to my AME at my next
physical over a year later (which was a 2nd class).

No problems and smooth sailing since. To avoid surprises, have a copy of
the text prepared and have the surgeon read it BEFORE you have the
procedure, so he knows exactly what you are looking for.

Dave

Nick Funk wrote:
> Is LASIK approved procedure for third class medical?
> Sooner or later, I might have LASIK (wavefront) done to my left eye for
> correcting vision problems. But if it causes problem with maintaining a
> third class medical, I will just stick with my glasses.
>
> Any information is greatly appreciated!
> Nick

[John T]

I had my surgery in 2001. I went for my 1st 3rd class in 2002, about 18
months later.

FAA sent me a 2 page form for my opth (I can't spell it...) to fill out.
Unfortunately at the time, I didn't know better, and trusted the doctor
to send it in. Now that I'm nearing my check ride, I find out about
this, so they sent me another copy of the form, I go to a different
doctor and I send in the forms myself. FAA said no problem.

I think there is also the possibility you might have to wait 6 months
after the surgery??? I seem to recall something about that.

It doesn't stop you from flying though. You can fly, just not as PIC.

John

[Newps]

Nick Funk wrote:

> Is LASIK approved procedure for third class medical?

We have three controllers here at BIL that had LASIK up in Canada about
7-8 years ago. No problems with a second class medical and they were
all working again within a week of the procedure.

[Jim Burns]

I've looked into it a couple times. From what I remember your
ophthalmologist will have to submit a statement to Oklahoma City stating
that your vision has stabilized WHEN that occurs. I've been told that can
be anywhere from a couple weeks to several months. The risk of not being
able to fly for a few months has turned me off on the idea.

Can anybody else add anything? I'm still interested.

Jim

[Joe Feise]

Richard Riley wrote on 08/14/05 19:14:

> On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 18:53:19 -0500, Nick Funk
> > wrote:
>
> :Is LASIK approved procedure for third class medical?
> :Sooner or later, I might have LASIK (wavefront) done to my left eye for
> :correcting vision problems. But if it causes problem with maintaining a
> : third class medical, I will just stick with my glasses.
> :
> I had PRK - not LASIK, but similar - last year. One eye in April, one
> in December.
>
> I had my physical in March. There was a form for my Ophthalmologist
> to fill out, asking about halos, visual accuity, a couple of charts,
> that kind of thing. He did, I sent it in, they sent it back wanting
> more detail that he thought was silly and already answered, but he did
> it anyway. They approved with the notation that if anything changed
> I'd have to notify my AME.


Same here, also with PRK, 13 years back. When I went for my first
Medical in 93, they sent me this nice letter saying that if anything
changes, I'd have to notify the AME.

> I'd suggest you ask about PRK. It's a somewhat older procedure. It

> uses the same laser to change the shape of the surface of the cornea,
> instead of the inside of a flap. The recovery is longer, but the
> complication rate is lower. The complications from LASIK are pretty
> low to begin with, but I figure they're my eyes, I want the rate to be
> zero. PRK is pretty close to zero.


I agree. Didn't have any problems in the 13 years since I had PRK.

-Joe

[Morgans]

"Jim Burns" > wrote

> Can anybody else add anything? I'm still interested.

I really like my 47 year old, bifocal wearing vision, compared to the small
chance that an eye surgery could take all of that away.

I would want the chance of having a complication down to 1 in 475 trillion,
before I would go for it.

Just my opinions, though.
--
Jim in NC

[Gig 601XL Builder]

"Morgans" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Jim Burns" > wrote
>
>> Can anybody else add anything? I'm still interested.
>
> I really like my 47 year old, bifocal wearing vision, compared to the
> small
> chance that an eye surgery could take all of that away.
>
> I would want the chance of having a complication down to 1 in 475
> trillion,
> before I would go for it.
>
> Just my opinions, though.
> --
> Jim in NC
>

I had really been thinking of getting Lasik done. Then I saw the doctors
that invented the process on TV. (They were getting some award) They all had
glasses.

[Dave S]

>
> I had really been thinking of getting Lasik done. Then I saw the doctors
> that invented the process on TV. (They were getting some award) They all had
> glasses.

There is another change that occurs in they eye as you reach middle and
older age: The lens of the eye becomes stiffer and less flexible. This
affects the eye's ability to "accomodate" or focus on items at different
distances.

Even though I had my Lasik before the age of 30, I know that I will
likely need "reading" glasses again before I reach 50. That still makes
it worth it, having clear vision on awakening, instead of having to put
in -5.0 contacts or find my glasses before I can go do things.

It would have even been better when I was a paramedic and volunteer
firefighter, as when I was a medic, I had to sleep in my "extended wear"
lenses overnight on the nights I worked.. and I had to PUT IN my lenses
before I could run a fire call.

Overall, it was worth it. But as someone else said.. there IS a risk
that you may have permanent side effects, particularly at night. Do your
homework. Get SEVERAL free evaluations from different physicians. Make
sure you are a good candidate.

Dave

[Jase]

Transport Canada requires a three month period, after the cessation of
medicated drops (required for about a week after the surgery), and then
a re-test, before allowing PIC duties. I don't believe the same exists
in the US (several postings here already detailing requirements).

I had both eyes done in January. Love the freedom, but the three
months was a drag. Was training at the time, so managed to do lot's of
my dual time in the intervening months (which is why I did the surgery
then and didn't wait for post licensing). Solo was a long time coming
because of it though.


John T wrote:
> I had my surgery in 2001. I went for my 1st 3rd class in 2002, about 18
> months later.
>
> FAA sent me a 2 page form for my opth (I can't spell it...) to fill out.
> Unfortunately at the time, I didn't know better, and trusted the doctor
> to send it in. Now that I'm nearing my check ride, I find out about
> this, so they sent me another copy of the form, I go to a different
> doctor and I send in the forms myself. FAA said no problem.
>
> I think there is also the possibility you might have to wait 6 months
> after the surgery??? I seem to recall something about that.
>
> It doesn't stop you from flying though. You can fly, just not as PIC.
>
> John

[George Patterson]

Dave S wrote:
>
> There is another change that occurs in they eye as you reach middle and
> older age: The lens of the eye becomes stiffer and less flexible. This
> affects the eye's ability to "accomodate" or focus on items at different
> distances.

My opthamalogist told me that there's a new procedure coming along that will
also take care of this. He says it will cost about the same as LASIK. Come to
think out it, his office should start offering it about now. I need to check
into it a bit more.

George Patterson
Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to
use the Internet and he won't bother you for weeks.

[Gary G]

I had it and have no problems.
As long as you pass the vision tests.

There are possible side-effects, especially with night vision.
I have some "unsharp edge" in low light conditions, but
am still able to pass the vision test.
I'm 20/20, but in low-light, I'm still 20/20, but with
some little things due to the surgery.

Now - if you're able to pass the regular light condition
vision exam, but not night vision, you could have
a restriction to daytime VFR conditions only.
You cold still even get the PP ticket, but no night flying.
Otherwise, you'd have to go Sport Pilot, which doesn't
have anything more than the Drivers License vision exam.

Gary

[Gig 601XL Builder]

"Gary G" > wrote in message
...
>I had it and have no problems.
> As long as you pass the vision tests.
>
> There are possible side-effects, especially with night vision.
> I have some "unsharp edge" in low light conditions, but
> am still able to pass the vision test.
> I'm 20/20, but in low-light, I'm still 20/20, but with
> some little things due to the surgery.
>
> Now - if you're able to pass the regular light condition
> vision exam, but not night vision, you could have
> a restriction to daytime VFR conditions only.
> You cold still even get the PP ticket, but no night flying.
> Otherwise, you'd have to go Sport Pilot, which doesn't
> have anything more than the Drivers License vision exam.
>
> Gary

And your still limited to Day VFR

[Dave Butler]

George Patterson wrote:
> Dave S wrote:
>
>>
>> There is another change that occurs in they eye as you reach middle
>> and older age: The lens of the eye becomes stiffer and less flexible.
>> This affects the eye's ability to "accomodate" or focus on items at
>> different distances.
>
>
> My opthamalogist told me that there's a new procedure coming along that
> will also take care of this. He says it will cost about the same as
> LASIK. Come to think out it, his office should start offering it about
> now. I need to check into it a bit more.

The doc that was manning the optical society (or whatever it's called) booth at
Oshkosh mentioned this possibility, also. I think it involves implantation of an
artificial lens? ... or am I thinking of something else?

My LASIK story:
I was in the -4.0 to -4.5 range in both eyes and had them both done about 6
years ago. I was already presbyopic and using reading glasses. I had both eyes
adjusted for distant vision.

From my perspective it was hugely successful and worth it. It freed me from
wearing glasses or contact lenses for a lot of activities. I particularly liked
being able to walk in the rain without looking through wet glasses, and being
able to do sports without glasses.

I still needed reading glasses, but I knew to expect that going in. I had
slightly more coma. I think that's what it's called - bright lines appearing to
pass through a point source of light at night. I had some coma before, and I
quickly accommodated to the change and it was not troublesome.

Now, 6 years later, I am back to wearing glasses for driving and flying, and
increasingly for other activities as well. One eye has drifted significantly
back toward myopia, so I have a sort of accidental monovision (one eye is
optimized for distant vision, and the other for close-up). The monovision
actually has some advantages. When I wear my bifocals, I have good vision in
both eyes both distant and close-up.

Subjectively, I possibly have slightly less acuity corrected now than I did
corrected before the surgery, but I'm not sure. Anyway I have adequate acuity
and can get along without corrective lenses for a lot of activities, which is good.

The reason one eye has drifted back toward myopia, I'm told, is that I have an
incipient cataract in that eye. No prediction about how fast it will develop.

Dave

[Gary G]

Right.

[Gary G]

I had to have a recent eye exam (within past year)
from Opthamologist (not optometrist).
There is a standard Eye Exam form that the FAA
uses and requires.

Quite fortuitously, my Opthamologist happened
to be a former flight surgeon and was quite familiar
with the form.

There is a specific form - yes.
It cost me no extra than a "routine eye exam" with
my opthamologist.

But it is "more than typical".

[John T]

Just saw a short segment on the new type surgery, its called EPI-LASIK.
They qouted about $5600.00 on the show. Do a google and see what else
can be found