Eye surgery

Katamarino

Katamarino

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Katamarino
One of my buddies here in Iraq has a PPL (out of currency) and is keen to get back into it. He's about to have surgery on one eye to have a cataract removed, and a lens replaced. Obviously this will have to be reported when he goes to get his medical, but should he expect it to be a big deal, or just a run of the mill thing?

I told him to keep full records of everything in case the FAA wants to see them, and also told him about Dr Bruce.
 
He should investigate before surgery, don't know the details, but lens choice can be important to medical. Sometimes docs suggest one eye for close and one for distance, bad news for medical, I think. Contact Dr Bruce for details, again, my advice above worth what you paid for it.
 
I had cataract surgery on both eyes, reported it, and received my class III medical with no problem. Included was a note from the surgeon saying surgery successful, no complications, no further visits (or some such language.)
 
I just had a lens replacement in the left eye. You have choices to make on correcting vision for distance or near vision. They also offer a hybrid lens that compromises between near and close up vision - but neither are fully corrected. I had distance correction along with astigmatism correction. I have 20/20 vision in that left eye after surgery. There is an FAA form that you take to your eye doctor after surgery to fill out. If the cataracts are bothering him - he will be amazed how clear everything is after surgery.
 
I've noticed that colors are much more vivid without the yellowish cast that my cataracts gave everything. I didn't even notice it until after I had the first eye done.
 
Palmpilot said:
I've noticed that colors are much more vivid without the yellowish cast that my cataracts gave everything. I didn't even notice it until after I had the first eye done.
Click to expand...
My mother picked out all the countertops and stuff for her new kitchen before she had the cataracts removed - everything was a light pink, which was odd, because she was not a big fan of pink, but, well, that's what she wanted.
After the surgery she came home and was less than happy to learn that she had a pink kitchen...
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
My mother picked out all the countertops and stuff for her new kitchen before she had the cataracts removed - everything was a light pink, which was odd, because she was not a big fan of pink, but, well, that's what she wanted.
After the surgery she came home and was less than happy to learn that she had a pink kitchen...
Click to expand...

That's funny, and close to home!
My father bought a used 1959 Yellow Lincoln Continental when I was a kid. He got it home, took off his yellow glasses,"he called them "happy glasses," And found it Continental PINK!
keZy2i.jpg


My surgeon said that all people get cataracts if they live long enough.
 
kgruber said:
That's funny, and close to home!
My father bought a used 1959 Yellow Lincoln Continental when I was a kid...
keZy2i.jpg


.
Click to expand...

That car would go perfectly with my parents bathroom fixtures. From the same era.

Saw a vintage '50s Bo at OSH this year that was done up in two-tone pink and black. I could see Richie Cunningham's mother and the Fonz taking flying lessons in it. :p
 
PaulS said:
He should investigate before surgery, don't know the details, but lens choice can be important to medical. Sometimes docs suggest one eye for close and one for distance, bad news for medical, I think. Contact Dr Bruce for details, again, my advice above worth what you paid for it.
Click to expand...

This this this!!!! Don't do the mono vision thing.
 
Thanks all, he's sat with me and read through this. Good guidance!
 
Investigate the surgeon I had a buddy whose surgery went bad losing his flying privileges
 
I had cataract surgery on both eyes, reported it, and received my class III medical with no problem. Included was a note from the surgeon saying surgery successful, no complications, no further visits (or some such language.)

My experience was the same
 
i had both eyes done within two weeks of each other, went with having distance vision corrected and needing cheaters for reading. doc filled out FAA form on second follow up and had 1st class issued without question.

bob
 
I'm posting this on the original posters thread, I hope its permitted but its relevant.

I visited the eye doctor yesterday and my left lens is cloudy although I have perfect corrected vision. He recommends cataract surgery for that one eye. I have always been a slight negative in one eye and a slight positive in the other (-1.25/+2.0) and have had no problem with the AME eye exam in the past with contacts lenses in. If I have the 8500-7 form complete by the surgeon saying everything is good to go should I have any concerns? I know I'll still need to have a +2 contact in my right eye plus wear reading glasses as I do now. I'd love to have both done like has been previously mentioned but only one needs to be fixed.
 
Monovision correction by surgery is allowed by the FAA. It's monovision contacts that they won't permit.

All this surgery requires is the vision being stabilized and a report from the ophtho.
 
MikeyJD said:
I'm posting this on the original posters thread, I hope its permitted but its relevant.

I visited the eye doctor yesterday and my left lens is cloudy although I have perfect corrected vision. He recommends cataract surgery for that one eye. I have always been a slight negative in one eye and a slight positive in the other (-1.25/+2.0) and have had no problem with the AME eye exam in the past with contacts lenses in. If I have the 8500-7 form complete by the surgeon saying everything is good to go should I have any concerns? I know I'll still need to have a +2 contact in my right eye plus wear reading glasses as I do now. I'd love to have both done like has been previously mentioned but only one needs to be fixed.
Click to expand...
On vision items, there can be additional documentation items the FAA would like to have, and obtaining them makes approval a quick thing. Pinging Dr. Bruce and Dr. Lou to the thread to provide you a list.

@bbchien @lbfjrmd
 
Palmpilot said:
I've noticed that colors are much more vivid without the yellowish cast that my cataracts gave everything. I didn't even notice it until after I had the first eye done.
Click to expand...

I had both lenses replaced with the most high-tech synthetics available, one week apart.

The day after the first surgery, I was was just about useless at work because all I could do was fume about how "all the colors were so much brighter, especially RED!"

I was really angry I had not done it ten years earlier! Flying at night and making platform landings would have been so much easier!

The flight surgeon who did my class 1 afterward was an Ophthalmologist. I just showed him the prescription sheets from the lenses and it was all good. He even loaned me some readers to pass the near vision test...

I strongly encourage anyone with non-perfect vision to get it done. It is a life changing event!
 
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