Steroid eye drops & Class III medical

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I gave in and went to the eye doctor in March after my left eye felt like sandpaper for awhile, and was getting worse. The diagnosis was giant papillary conjunctivitis (bumps on the inside of the eyelid) related to contact lenses, and he put me on a 5-week course of Lotemax eye drops. Treatment is still in progress, and seems to be improving.

Fast forward to the present...my medical will be up in June, and I was fooling around with TurboMedical tonight; I discovered that the Lotemax is a disapproved medication. I believe I need to report both the visit to the eye doc, and the drops, to the AME, but what can I expect from there? Do I need to bring any documentation from the eye doc? Will this turn into a special issuance situation? I haven't flown for 18 months, so nothing during the problem/treatment period.

Question 2: I had hoped to get current again this spring with an instructor and start flying again; I assume that I need to self-ground because the drops are disapproved; once the course is done, am I ok to fly again on my own evaluation?

Always been in good health and didn't expect a problem with the drops -- didn't even think to ask the eye doc about it.

Thanks ~
 
It's adsorbed systemically through the conjunctiva, that's why you can't have it and fly. But since you can't fly until this is over, just wait until this is over, then you can answer "no" to the medication question 17a and be on your way, IF you are certified below CFI.

I say that because below that level you are governed by 61.53, interim self certification/self grounding. CFIs, ont the other hand, have demonstrable knowledge of part 67 and know they have to ask their AME or OKC; so CFIs and ATP CFIs are grounded until released to fly again. That's just how it goes....
 
bbchien said:
I say that because below that level you are governed by 61.53, interim self certification/self grounding. CFIs, ont the other hand, have demonstrable knowledge of part 67 and know they have to ask their AME or OKC; so CFIs and ATP CFIs are grounded until released to fly again. That's just how it goes....
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Bruce does that also apply to CFI's who are no longer current?
 
bbchien said:
It's adsorbed systemically through the conjunctiva, that's why you can't have it and fly. But since you can't fly until this is over, just wait until this is over, then you can answer "no" to the medication question 17a and be on your way, IF you are certified below CFI.

I say that because below that level you are governed by 61.53, interim self certification/self grounding. CFIs, ont the other hand, have demonstrable knowledge of part 67 and know they have to ask their AME or OKC; so CFIs and ATP CFIs are grounded until released to fly again. That's just how it goes....
Click to expand...

Doc, I'm puzzled by the second paragraph. Where in part 67 does it say that CFIs or ATP are any different and that Comm pilot or lower do not need to know what is in part 67?

And would not a visit to his doctor for the problem not be reportable under the section asking about any dr visits in the last year? I always report my annual visitor prescription approved mess, and other routine visits.
 
BillTIZ said:
Define current? If you have allowed your 2 yr renewal to expire, are you no longer a CFI and there for the interpretation would not apply?
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In my case my 2 year renewal expired a long time ago. I see your point about no longer being a CFI. Makes sense.
 
OP here again...

Thanks, Bruce, for the info. I realize now that 17a asks only about medications currently being taken, where I had read it as one of those "have you ever" questions.

So, same question as Bill had -- Though the medication need not be reported, I would still report the visit(s) to the eye doctor under 19, same as annual physical exam and the like?

And the "have you ever" question 18d, where it asks about eye problems--mark yes, and add the diagnosis in the notes box?

Off-topic...is it really necessary to report occasional OTC stuff like an Aleve for a headache (not chrionic, just occasionally) in the meds section?

Excellent resource here...thanks!
 
It really has to do with that below CFI there is NOTHING in the oral exams, PTSs or coursework that make one read part 67. But at the CFI level you have to have knowledge.

The list of prohibited conditions is far from complete, 61.313(b) pretty much makes the pilot consult an AME. But below CFI all they can hold you to is 61.53.

Now if the general counsel is for some reason wanting to pursue the retired CFI, it depends on when 61.313(b) was published as is now, compared to when you trained and when you lapsed. Talk about dancing on a pin! That's for the Red Board.

Better to just to not call attention to yourself and ask the AME on record.
 
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bbchien said:
It really has to do with that below CFI there is NOTHING in the oral exams, PTSs or coursework that make one read part 67. But at the CFI level you have to have knowledge.
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Wow, that really is a fine line, so fine it's a dashed line.

Thanks Doc, time for me to do more research.
 
Ok, I did my research. As doc says, part 67, is a reference item for the CFI-Airplane PTS.
But it is not a reference item for the CFI-Glider PTS.

That's why I did not understand his post about it being a "knowledge item" for instructors and ATP. It is not a "knowledge item" for all instructors.
 
BillTIZ said:
Ok, I did my research. As doc says, part 67, is a reference item for the CFI-Airplane PTS.
But it is not a reference item for the CFI-Glider PTS.

That's why I did not understand his post about it being a "knowledge item" for instructors and ATP. It is not a "knowledge item" for all instructors.
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Ah. Of course. No medicals for all three categories of gliders(!).

:rolleyes:
 
61.313(b) is the requirements for sport pilot - glider rating.

i've never heard of CFI's or ATP's being held to different medical standards re self certifying between medicals as any other pilots.

i don't ever recall being required to read through part 67 on any of my cfi or atp training, knowledge or oral exams.
 
Does anyone have a link or recommendation for a good reference guide on this sort of thing? I'll be renewing my medical for the first time this summer, and I've seen doctors for regular annual checkups and to have minor problems looked at, like the OP. I suppose it's common knowledge for those who have been through it once, but the FAA forms aren't always clear on what to list...do I need to, for example, list ibuprofen in the medications section if I just take it a couple times a month as needed when I have a headache?

If there's a resolved problem, like the OP's eye issue -- that would be presumably listed under the corresponding section in question 18 (eg, for the OP, under "have you ever had any eye problems except glasses?"). Would listing it there trigger questions and require any documentation from the other physician?

Not worried about passing health-wise, but moreso about the paperwork!
 
It's a legal argument that has been made and leads to the SI letters that say, "If you experience any change in condition or change in medication your are to inform us immediately", which takes the airman off of 61.53.

In defending airmen who continued to fly after a heart attack who still had unexpired Medical certificates, the attorneys have cited 61.53 and asked FAA to show cause why the airman should have had knowledge of 67.313. They only succeed when the airman is a CFI or an ATP. But they do succeed. They never succeed at the level of PVT or COM.

There is no good reference guide for this. It's all in "attorney world".
 
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