Anyone have vision issues?

Not a directly piloting question, but it certainly affects it.

My second class medical expires in December, so panic is starting to
set in.

I have bad eyes. Theoretically correctable to 20/20, but in reality,
toric contact lenses aren't much better than a piece of plastic in my
eye. My correction is so strong that it's difficult for me to drive
with glasses, and don't ask me to land a plane with them. So far I've
managed to hang onto my second class by sticking my finger in my eye
and manually rotating the lens before the test. I'm worried my AME is
going to start having issues with this.

I've seen two doctors in an attempt to get this taken care of, but
they both recommended LASIK (I'm not even a candidate). The
prevailing opinion seems to be that since I'm not flying for a living
(part time CFI and fly for CAP) that I don't need 20/20 vision and can
take the risks associated with the surgery. I actually had one guy
explain to me that "needing 20/20 vision to be a pilot is a myth -
don't let it stop you if you really want to learn to fly!"

Has anyone experiences this kind of treatment? Am I being unrealistic
to expect help in getting 20/20 vision? I have a third opinion
scheduled for next month - how do I make the doctor understand how
important this is?

(and yes, I'm aware I don't even need a medical to instruct, but CAP
requires it and frankly I'm tired of living in an astigmatism-blurred
world)

Why cant you get the Lasik? My son had bad vision with a high stigmatism. 4k
later and he needs no glasses.
"Emily" wrote in message
ups.com...
Not a directly piloting question, but it certainly affects it.

My second class medical expires in December, so panic is starting to
set in.

I have bad eyes. Theoretically correctable to 20/20, but in reality,
toric contact lenses aren't much better than a piece of plastic in my
eye. My correction is so strong that it's difficult for me to drive
with glasses, and don't ask me to land a plane with them. So far I've
managed to hang onto my second class by sticking my finger in my eye
and manually rotating the lens before the test. I'm worried my AME is
going to start having issues with this.

I've seen two doctors in an attempt to get this taken care of, but
they both recommended LASIK (I'm not even a candidate). The
prevailing opinion seems to be that since I'm not flying for a living
(part time CFI and fly for CAP) that I don't need 20/20 vision and can
take the risks associated with the surgery. I actually had one guy
explain to me that "needing 20/20 vision to be a pilot is a myth -
don't let it stop you if you really want to learn to fly!"

Has anyone experiences this kind of treatment? Am I being unrealistic
to expect help in getting 20/20 vision? I have a third opinion
scheduled for next month - how do I make the doctor understand how
important this is?

(and yes, I'm aware I don't even need a medical to instruct, but CAP
requires it and frankly I'm tired of living in an astigmatism-blurred
world)

"Emily" wrote in message
ups.com...
Not a directly piloting question, but it certainly affects it.

My second class medical expires in December, so panic is starting to
set in.

I have bad eyes. Theoretically correctable to 20/20, but in reality,
toric contact lenses aren't much better than a piece of plastic in my
eye. My correction is so strong that it's difficult for me to drive
with glasses, and don't ask me to land a plane with them. So far I've
managed to hang onto my second class by sticking my finger in my eye
and manually rotating the lens before the test. I'm worried my AME is
going to start having issues with this.

I've seen two doctors in an attempt to get this taken care of, but
they both recommended LASIK (I'm not even a candidate).

Two doctors recommend it even though you're not a candidate? Could you
elaborate on that?



The
prevailing opinion seems to be that since I'm not flying for a living
(part time CFI and fly for CAP) that I don't need 20/20 vision and can
take the risks associated with the surgery. I actually had one guy
explain to me that "needing 20/20 vision to be a pilot is a myth -
don't let it stop you if you really want to learn to fly!"

Has anyone experiences this kind of treatment?

Treatment, as in LASIK?

Am I being unrealistic
to expect help in getting 20/20 vision?

No, not if LASIK is an option. I know quite a few four-eyes that looked like
they were viewing the world through Coke bottles, and they're all 20/20 now,
and one person very dear to my heart, is now 20/15, coming from
20/200something.

I have a third opinion
scheduled for next month - how do I make the doctor understand how
important this is?

Just tell him IT IS YOUR LIVLIHOOD.


(and yes, I'm aware I don't even need a medical to instruct, but CAP
requires it and frankly I'm tired of living in an astigmatism-blurred
world)

It certainly sucks!

Good luck however you go about it.


--
Matt Barrow
Performance Homes, LLC.
Cheyenne, WY

Emily wrote:
I have bad eyes. Theoretically correctable to 20/20, but in reality,
toric contact lenses aren't much better than a piece of plastic in my
eye. My correction is so strong that it's difficult for me to drive
with glasses, and don't ask me to land a plane with them. So far I've
managed to hang onto my second class by sticking my finger in my eye
and manually rotating the lens before the test. I'm worried my AME is
going to start having issues with this.

I'm not sure whether I understand your problem correctly, but just in case:

I know there are contact lenses available, which can correct astigmatism.
The trick is, they use some sort of built in tiny weight, which makes them
rotate themselves to the correct orientation.

all the best,
Friedrich

She already has the weighted (toric) lenses. My AME is also an eye doctor,
that is why I go to him. I have had problems with a retinal tear, still
have a second class medical.

--
*H. Allen Smith*
WACO - We are all here, because we are not all there.

"Friedrich Ostertag" wrote in message
...
Emily wrote:
I have bad eyes. Theoretically correctable to 20/20, but in reality,
toric contact lenses aren't much better than a piece of plastic in my
eye. My correction is so strong that it's difficult for me to drive
with glasses, and don't ask me to land a plane with them. So far I've
managed to hang onto my second class by sticking my finger in my eye
and manually rotating the lens before the test. I'm worried my AME is
going to start having issues with this.

I'm not sure whether I understand your problem correctly, but just in
case:

I know there are contact lenses available, which can correct astigmatism.
The trick is, they use some sort of built in tiny weight, which makes them
rotate themselves to the correct orientation.

all the best,
Friedrich

Allen wrote:
She already has the weighted (toric) lenses.

Ah, I didn't know the english name for it, thanks.

Friedrich

I went to Canada in '93 for PRK (wasn't approved in US then). Corrected from
20/400 to 20/20 although no astig. Took a little time to heal but 100%
success (no halos or stars).
Get a Doc who has done thousands of eyes and if you're worried just do one
eye at a time.
Charles

"Emily" wrote in message
ups.com...
Not a directly piloting question, but it certainly affects it.

My second class medical expires in December, so panic is starting to
set in.

I have bad eyes. Theoretically correctable to 20/20, but in reality,

Emily opined

Not a directly piloting question, but it certainly affects it.

My second class medical expires in December, so panic is starting to
set in.

I have bad eyes.

IIUC, you wear contacts? Why not use old-fashioned glasses?


-ash
Cthulhu in 2007!
Why wait for nature?

I typically can't see going to work everyday, so I guess that would
qualify as a vision problem...

wrote)
I typically can't see going to work everyday, so I guess that would
qualify as a vision problem...


LOL!!!


Paul-Mont
Can't see the forest through the trees some days