Laser Eye Surgery

[Bumz_Rush]

Help, I need a professional view.....

My "owner" who flys himself is in Italy for laser eye surgery. I do not know the exact procedure. He arrived there yesterday.

Tomorrow he intends to operate as captain his G4. returning home.

I can only assume that the FAA have no knowledge of this planned operation.

I am concerned that the FAA will not consider his medical valid, and thus his licence is invalid.

Is it dangerous to pressurise the eye after this procedure.

Can he expect any usable vision so soon after this operation.

This is typical of his concern for regulations.

Help...he expect me to be co-pilot.



Bumz...

[Bernd Podhradsky]

Hey!

I guess, that the FAA has certain rules and regulations concerning laser eye surgeries (as the JAA does). If I was in his situation I what just make a call and ask them, what he has to do (new medical?) before making such a decision.

Apart from that, I would not want to be co-pilot of a person who goes abroad, making a laser eye surgerie without being informed what consequences this has in terms of license / medical. This is a lack of responsibility I wouldn't like to have left to me in the cockpit.

just my 2 cents,
Bernd

[unowho]

I know this does not answer the question but........

my wife had laser treatment to her eyes over 2 years ago. Her doctor only asked her to stay in a darkened room for 2 hours and then lead a normal life. She drove the car back from the operation without any problems. My brother-in-law was next and went ski-ing at Sierra Navada, Spain which is at about 3 000 m (10 000 ft) the next day, with no side affects.

RGDS unowho

[Skylion]

It depends whats being done. In some laser proceedures my understanding is that the benefit is immediate and in others it takes longer to settle down. This probably varies from person to person. In my own case vision was considerably enhanced immediately, and there were no problems, and nor was there any inhibition on activity the same day, so no complications seem to be anticipated as result of altitude etc. If the op is for removal of a cataract it can take longer to settle, but its still very quickly better than pre the op.
It would be useful to hear a medical specialists view and how the CAA perceive it.

[caniplaywithmadness]

I spoke to a CAA ophthalmologist about this a few years ago. My surgery was done a couple of years prior to getting my class 1 medical (ATCO) and the ophthalmologist told me that had I been a pilot and had the surgery done whilst flying that I would be grounded immediately pending a review by a CAA ophthalmologist, my local AME or optician would not be good enough - not sure about the rules now, but I remember after my surgery I had to stay in a darkened room for 24 hours after that I was fine, slightly blurred vision for another 24 / 36 hours but it settled down after that.

The types of surgery vary, I had the PRK which involve scraping away the layer of skin covering the front of the eye prior to the corneal reshape using the laser, hence the recovery time was slightly longer. I believe that now a couple of hours is the norm for the type of surgery they do.

However I wouldn't want to fly as P1 with a captain who I wasn't sure was medically capable (or in fact licensed) to fly the aircraft.

[Polly Gnome]

A friend of mine with a class 2 medical was grounded for 3 months after (successful) laser eye surgery. It seemed to be standard procedure.

[Flyin'Dutch']

Here (http://www.cami.jccbi.gov/AAM-300/amcdfaq.html) is the guidance from the FAA, see item 12.

Not sure what exact procedure we are talking about but it seems that the next day would be optimistic.

However I can not give the definite answer just based upon your information.

FD

[B737NG]

To make it shure and him legal !!! I would consult a FAA AME and
thereafter consider to fly. In some countries Pilots are loosing theire 1st class medical when they have laser surgery and they cannot prove they have no side effects!. I would be careful in his case as he loses the insurance coverage when he acts as PIC is has no valid medical. Is that a part 91 operation or a part 135?.

NG

[Fair_Weather_Flyer]

I had LASIK in 2000 and hold both FAA and JAA Class 1's. The FAA requires the surgeon to fill in a form demonstrating that you are fit to fly. As soon as this is done, you can fly again. See www.aviationmedicine.com for more details. You will also get the eye evaluation form off this website. Getting a medical off the JAA is a good deal harder and depends on your individual circumstances. It took me several years to convince them to even consider me for a medical; that was some time ago though.