3rd Class Medical Limitation - Sigh

kjwalker01

kjwalker01

Pre-takeoff checklist
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Nov 27, 2013
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Denver, CO
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Display name:
Keith
Well, after getting LASIK done 15 years ago at the age of 30, my vision has finally slipped enough to get the Corrective Lenses limitation when I renewed my medical yesterday.

Not that I've felt comfortable flying without glasses for a few years now, but at least I could live in denial about getting old (er).

Not no mo'.
 
You distance vision or has just your near vision slipped?
 
My vision is....ah... slipping. (at 57) What is the FAA viewpoint of corrective eye surgery? What all needs to be done to satisfy the FAA?
 
kjwalker01 said:
Well, after getting LASIK done 15 years ago at the age of 30, my vision has finally slipped enough to get the Corrective Lenses limitation when I renewed my medical yesterday.

Not that I've felt comfortable flying without glasses for a few years now, but at least I could live in denial about getting old (er).

Not no mo'.
Click to expand...

First-world pilot problem.
 
Zeldman said:
My vision is....ah... slipping. (at 57) What is the FAA viewpoint of corrective eye surgery? What all needs to be done to satisfy the FAA?
Click to expand...

Depends on which surgery you get done. If you have LASIK all you need to be is stable without complications after the surgery (and pass the vision requirements obviously if you want to forgo the corrective lenses restriction).

My wife went from an uncorrected vision of "what eye chart?" to 20/20 with LASIK. She had a few complications, but it settled down.
 
I have had the dreaded "must possess glasses while flying" on my medical for the last couple times. It could be worse! ;)
 
I'm 29, and my first medical had "must wear corrective lenses". So hey, at least we are blessed enough to have medicals and be able to fly!

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
 
I've worn glasses since I could tell the eye Dr which way the legs on the table pointed (E in various orientations. I didn't know my letters yet).

My near vision was good enough I cheated under my glasses to read the charts. Then I couldn't see to set the frequency on the radios. So now I wear bifocals. But I can still fly so who cares?

John
 
I had LASIK 14 years(?) ago - started to get a little worse lately but did pass the physical without needing glasses this year. What has happened is my near vision in low light isn't too great - so flying at night I need to have a pair of magnifiers to read charts. Still one of the best things I ever did was to have the operation.
 
flyingron said:
You distance vision or has just your near vision slipped?
Click to expand...

Distance, though near vision has also been slipping. As others have said, things could be much worse. Even now, I can still function without glasses (beach, pool, etc.) where I couldn't before. Definitely First World Pilot Problems!
 
Well when you develop cataracts and have the surgery you will be back to 20/20. Don
 
I went through the first two decades of my flying career squinting enough to pass the test even though I always flew with my glasses. Frankly, I think I could still pass it if they AME used an eye chart (I've always had an issue with the contrast on those machines you stare in).
 
I recently passed the vision test when renewing my drivers license. Last visit to Dr Bruce I proudly announced this fact and he said well lets give it a try. After murdering the reading of the first line he said "Put your glasses on", with a bit of a chuckle.
 
flyingron said:
I went through the first two decades of my flying career squinting enough to pass the test even though I always flew with my glasses. Frankly, I think I could still pass it if they AME used an eye chart (I've always had an issue with the contrast on those machines you stare in).
Click to expand...

Same for me. I can read the chart on the wall, but not the machine.

I don't have the chart memorized. I tried but I can't remember for that long....:lol:
 
Zeldman said:
My vision is....ah... slipping. (at 57) What is the FAA viewpoint of corrective eye surgery? What all needs to be done to satisfy the FAA?
Click to expand...

The key phrase below is "freedom from any glare, flares or other visual phenomena" which an eye surgeon who I asked stated the incidence of was 100% when multifocal lenses were implanted.

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_or...am/ame/guide/dec_cons/disease_prot/binocular/
Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners



Decision Considerations
Disease Protocols - Binocular Multifocal and Accommodating Devices

This Protocol establishes the authority for the Examiner to issue an airman medical certificate to binocular applicants using multifocal or accommodating ophthalmic devices.

Devices acceptable for aviation-related duties must be FDA approved and include:

  • Intraocular Lenses (multifocal or accommodating intraocular lens implants)
  • Bifocal/Multifocal contact lenses

Examiners may issue as outlined below:

  • Adaptation period before certification:
    • Surgical lens implantation - minimum of 3 months post-operative
    • Contact lenses (bifocal or multifocal) - minimum of one month of use
  • Must provide a report to include the FAA Form 8500-7, Report of Eye Evaluation, from the operating surgeon or the treating eye specialist. This report must attest to stable visual acuity and refractive error, absence of significant side effects/complications, need of medications, and freedom from any glare, flares or other visual phenomena that could affect visual performance and impact aviation safety
  • The following visual standards, as required for each class, must be met for each eye:
    Distant:
    First- and Second-Class
    20/20 or better in each eye separately, with or without correction

    Third-Class
    20/40 or better in each eye separately, with or without correction

    Near:
    All Classes
    20/40 or better in each eye separately (Snellen equivalent), with or without correction, as measured at 16 inches

    Intermediate:
    First- and Second-Class
    20/40 or better in each eye separately (Snellen equivalent), with or without correction at age 50 and over, as measured at 32 inches

    Third-Class
No requirement

 
DEFPOTEC, 20/20 on the chart. Just sayin'. . .shop for an AME who uses the chart?

Also, if you're just "slipping" a little bit, you can cheat a bit, especially on the machine. Experiment with a very light tug at the outside corner of your eyes, just on the boney orbit; if you're not too bad, a little outward pressure there can "warp" the sphere enough to bring the letters into focus. Might need to combine it with a little bit of a squint.

Be a little subtle, make it look like you're cupping your hands around the front of the machine, or blocking out the light, etc.

Also, try looking slightly to one side of the letter you're trying to read - very, very slightly. Try both sides, or just above/below; probably need to experiment in advance, to find your sweet spots.
 
There are pilots flying P-51s and other wonderships that wear glasses. Am I missing something?

And yes, I have the "must wear corrective lenses" on my medical.
 
Not understanding what the big deal is. Have had the limitation on my ticket for the entire time I've been flying. Whoop Dee Doo.
 
flyingron said:
Depends on which surgery you get done. If you have LASIK all you need to be is stable without complications after the surgery (and pass the vision requirements obviously if you want to forgo the corrective lenses restriction).

My wife went from an uncorrected vision of "what eye chart?" to 20/20 with LASIK. She had a few complications, but it settled down.
Click to expand...

How long did it take to settle down? How long ago was her surgery? Has she had any problems since?
 
Zeldman said:
How long did it take to settle down? How long ago was her surgery? Has she had any problems since?
Click to expand...

She had her surgery around 1998. We were very fortunate (and I had insisted on this going in) that the LASIK be done by the leading ophthamalogic surgeons in the area. She was not down six months however. She still has some dim light issues where things are outside the surgical field but it was a dramatic difference from her 20/600 uncorrected vision she had before.

She's had some vitreous issues of late but I don't think that is related to the LASIK (we're just getting old).
 
My AME put on my cirt "needs reading glasses" only bc they had me reading the smallest line..., but I don't need reading glasses at all, and I wear my glasses for everything


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