Vision

[andrew12]

Could you please help me to understand my prescription with regards to qualifying for a JAR Class1/2 as I don't understand it.

It says: Right Eye - SPH = +4.75, CYL = -0.75, AXIS = 115

Left Eye - SPH = +5.75, CYL = -0.25, AXIS = 71

BVD = 12

I also had an operation to fix a squint when I was 2

If I had LASIK surgury to correct my vision to 20/20, or better, would I qualify for a class 1/2 medical. What do airlines think of LASIK surgury?

Thanks,

Andrew

[milski]

Different countries in Europe have different requirements for a JAR medical. Looking at your location, I think you're interested in UK CAA/JAR Class 1 medical. These are the vision requirements for an initial issuance:

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/49/SRG_MED...InitialVisStds[2189].pdf

They say that your refractive correction should not exceed +5.00 dioptres. That's the part after SPH in your prescription. Which means that your left eye will be problematic. I don't know if CAA has any procedure for allowing a special issuance or some kind of waiver when you don't meet the initial criteria.

LASIK - look further down on the same page. The CAA does not recommend it and they still require you to have less than +5 diopter before the operation.

The requirements for the Class 2 medical seem to be simlar, less then +5 - http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/49/SRG_MED...InitialVisStds[538].pdf plus from what I know that's good only for private flying.

Your best bet is to look what the document above says and contant the CAA Medical Department for advice.

[andrew12]

Thanks for the reply. My chances don't look good with that left eye over 5. Do you think they might change their view on LASIK in the future as technology and success rates improve?

Thanks,

Andrew

[My Flight Surgeon]

Originally Posted by andrew12

Thanks for the reply. My chances don't look good with that left eye over 5. Do you think they might change their view on LASIK in the future as technology and success rates improve?

Thanks,

Andrew

Probably not. It has to do with the amount of deformity of the eye and how much material they have to take off the front of the eye to correct the vision. It is a problem of optical physics really.

[andrew12]

On the CAA website it says "the pre-operative refraction should not have been more than + 5.00 to - 6 dioptres (applicant just outside this range should contact the CAA medical department for advice)"

Would 5.75 be classed as just outside the range? If not, what would be, my perscription recently marginally improved so maybe it could go down again in the next few years to 5.5/5.25. Im just clinging on to any hope here, this is something I've wanted to do for a long time.

Thanks,

Andrew

[milski]

Originally Posted by andrew12

On the CAA website it says "the pre-operative refraction should not have been more than + 5.00 to - 6 dioptres (applicant just outside this range should contact the CAA medical department for advice)"

Would 5.75 be classed as just outside the range? If not, what would be, my perscription recently marginally improved so maybe it could go down again in the next few years to 5.5/5.25. Im just clinging on to any hope here, this is something I've wanted to do for a long time.

Thanks,

Andrew

What's just outside is up to the CAA to determine. Your best bet is to call that medical department - they are the people who set the rules so it's quite likely that they would know what you can or cannot do.