Soda vision

L

Lazy eye

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Low time student pilot and time to get the medical to solo. My problem is going to be vision. My left eye is 20/20. But the right eye is a little lazy. Went more than 10 years without using any form of corrective lens, not that the eye didn't require them. But with the right being lazy and the left being good, just dealt with it. Even corrected with contact lenses it's borderline 20/40. Trying to really nail the prescription to see what else I can do to improve it enough to pass without a SODA. Any advice on how to proceed other than what I'm already doing? Seen similar threads on people failing because of vision and having to go the SODA route, but would really like to avoid it.
 
Should also mention I have a pretty good astigmatism as well. I plan on going to another optometrist just for a second opinion
 
Why avoid the SODA? I got one for being color blind 20 years ago. I keep it on file at my AME and it saves me having any discussion about it, other than the nurses still like to test my color vision - you know just in case it cures itself after 57 years
 
aftCG said:
Why avoid the SODA? I got one for being color blind 20 years ago. I keep it on file at my AME and it saves me having any discussion about it, other than the nurses still like to test my color vision - you know just in case it cures itself after 57 years
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Yeah, I know several people who have done SODA rides, all reported NBD. (Much better than NDB.)
 
aftCG said:
Why avoid the SODA? I got one for being color blind 20 years ago. I keep it on file at my AME and it saves me having any discussion about it, other than the nurses still like to test my color vision - you know just in case it cures itself after 57 years
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Mainly because my instructor wants to sign me off for solo while he's at his winter home for a couple months, and I'm probably not at the ability level to take a SODA test... whatever that would entail.
 
Lazy eye said:
and I'm probably not at the ability level to take a SODA test... whatever that would entail.
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When I took my ride for my Sport Certificate the DPE & I talked about me upgrading to Private. I mentioned that I wear glasses and might not meet the vision requirement and he suggested the SODA to me and said, "I know you can see well enough to fly and that's what you have to prove."

A friend told the story of taking a SODA ride and was asked at one point how many cows were in a certain field below them. He told the examiner, "four" to which the examiner said, "that's not correct - there are five." He then asked the examiner to look again and notice that indeed there were four cows, and a horse. ;)
 
4 cows —- and a bull should guarantee passing!
 
If you can get to 20/40 at the eye doctors office get them to fill out the 8500-7 form.

Years ago I had an AME that I could not read the distance test in is machine. Every year I would go to the eye Dr. and have him fill out the part about distance then go to the AME. This way the AME did not have to test my distance vision in his old machine.

This my have changed so you should check out what parts of the form need to be filled out in your case.
 
Lazy eye said:
Have not, but that will be a question I will ask. Thanks.

So if I need to go the SODA route. At what point do I apply for that? Get the dual cross country done?
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You call up your local FSDO or whatever they call it these days. Schedule it. I'm surprised your CFI isn't being more helpful and finding out what the evaluation will be like. Mine did and we had the tower flash me the light gun to make sure I knew I would pass.
 
aftCG said:
Why avoid the SODA? I got one for being color blind 20 years ago. I keep it on file at my AME and it saves me having any discussion about it, other than the nurses still like to test my color vision - you know just in case it cures itself after 57 years
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I’m in the same predicament as him it’s just my right eye is really bad. Should I go take and fail a first class medical or just start the process of getting my SODA?
 
Jonathangreen545 said:
I’m in the same predicament as him it’s just my right eye is really bad. Should I go take and fail a first class medical or just start the process of getting my SODA?
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Real talk: Don't ever go for a 1st class medical unless you KNOW you're going to pass.
Get the SODA yesterday.
 
Until you get he SODA, you will be having this discussion every exam. Get it now and pretend you only see 20/70 in the bad eye, that way you have a cushion so that if your vision in the bad eye falls to 20/70 in future years your SODA is still good.
 
Is the condition…amblyopia? If so, and if the good eye has a totally normal humphrey 24-2 Visual field (you test both individually, you need a good eye and a weak eye map, both), you can get the “one eye” ride and that weak eye is never tested again…..
 
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I’m assuming it’s amblyopia secondary to significant astigmatism that went uncorrected when he was a child, thus his “Lazy eye” moniker.
 
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