SODA for Amblyopia?

N

njboeingfan

Well-Known Member
I saw my ophthalmologist today and my corrected vision is 20/25. As the title states, I was born with a lazy eye an I was able to get a second class medical last. I am thinking of getting a first class but I am worried about the vision now. Is the process for the waiver filling out an 8500-7 and taking. flight test? Thanks.
 
I'd have to look up the whole process again, but I've got the same deal. I have a first class, I have a SODA.

If I remember correctly, take 8500-7 to licensed opthamologist (I went to Walmart yay). Have them fill it out with some help from you. Take to AME. AME will defer to the feds. Pretty sure I could still use my existing medical during this period. Wait. Check in with local fsdo, schedule flight test. Take flight test, receive SODA.
 
KKochan said:
I'd have to look up the whole process again, but I've got the same deal. I have a first class, I have a SODA.

If I remember correctly, take 8500-7 to licensed opthamologist (I went to Walmart yay). Have them fill it out with some help from you. Take to AME. AME will defer to the feds. Pretty sure I could still use my existing medical during this period. Wait. Check in with local fsdo, schedule flight test. Take flight test, receive SODA.
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If I wanted to take the medical flight test to get a SODA, is it possible to have an instructor with me as well as the FAA person who will issue the SODA? I am wondering because I would want to get the SODA during one of my first flight lessons, just to be sure that I can in fact get a medical.
 
Pilot121 said:
If I wanted to take the medical flight test to get a SODA, is it possible to have an instructor with me as well as the FAA person who will issue the SODA? I am wondering because I would want to get the SODA during one of my first flight lessons, just to be sure that I can in fact get a medical.
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Not sure on that. You should call the local FSDO and ask. I did mine after I already had my commercial.
 
Not for nothing, but there is a difference between an ophthalmologist and an optometrist. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who can perform surgeries, while an optometrist is basically a fitter of glasses. Optometrists can screen for certain eye conditions, such as glaucoma, but cannot treat them. Amblyopia is something that you want to see an ophthalmologist for, at least in the initial stages.

Left untreated, Amblyopia can get worse. May I suggest that your first priority now should be to work with an Ophthalmologist and see what can be done to correct the condition, rather than how you can navigate the FAA medical process.
 
I have 1st class with SODA. Never officially diagnosed with amblyopia but can't get the left eye to better than 20/25. Anyways my process was as follows:

1. Went to AME and applied for 1st class
2. He deferred the application due to vision
3. Received a letter from the FSDO about scheduling the flight test
4. Called the FSDO and scheduled the flight test with one of the inspectors
5. The test was 3 touch and goes and a sim engine failure, he also asked me to read some instruments. I think it was smth like 0.5-0.6 total. No fees for the ride but obviously I had to bring the airplane.
6. Few weeks later received SODA and First Class medical in mail.

The whole process was easier than I expected. Probably because folks at the local FSDO are great, also turned out the AME was buddies with the regional flight surgeon not sure if that was of any help. Still took me about 4 months to do everything.
 
hammerhat said:
I have 1st class with SODA. Never officially diagnosed with amblyopia but can't get the left eye to better than 20/25. Anyways my process was as follows:

1. Went to AME and applied for 1st class
2. He deferred the application due to vision
3. Received a letter from the FSDO about scheduling the flight test
4. Called the FSDO and scheduled the flight test with one of the inspectors
5. The test was 3 touch and goes and a sim engine failure, he also asked me to read some instruments. I think it was smth like 0.5-0.6 total. No fees for the ride but obviously I had to bring the airplane.
6. Few weeks later received SODA and First Class medical in mail.

The whole process was easier than I expected. Probably because folks at the local FSDO are great, also turned out the AME was buddies with the regional flight surgeon not sure if that was of any help. Still took me about 4 months to do everything.
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At what point of your flight training did you do the medical flight test? Did you have your instructor with you, in addition to the FAA inspector? I'm just wondering because I want to know whether or not I can get the SODA/Medical before I invest the money and time into a lot of flight training.
Thanks!
 
Flying Saluki said:
Not for nothing, but there is a difference between an ophthalmologist and an optometrist. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who can perform surgeries, while an optometrist is basically a fitter of glasses. Optometrists can screen for certain eye conditions, such as glaucoma, but cannot treat them. Amblyopia is something that you want to see an ophthalmologist for, at least in the initial stages.

Left untreated, Amblyopia can get worse. May I suggest that your first priority now should be to work with an Ophthalmologist and see what can be done to correct the condition, rather than how you can navigate the FAA medical process.
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Read again. He is working with an Opthalmologist
 
Pilot121 said:
At what point of your flight training did you do the medical flight test? Did you have your instructor with you, in addition to the FAA inspector? I'm just wondering because I want to know whether or not I can get the SODA/Medical before I invest the money and time into a lot of flight training.
Thanks!
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At that time I had private and instrument and was about to start working on commercial. I had 3rd class, I think one only needs 20/40 for that.

I was not working with instructor at that time. Why do you want the instructor present? What would he or she be doing? Just sit in the back?

Also forgot to mention, shortly after my application they sent me another medical with limitation "Valid for student pilot privileges" or smth like that
 
hammerhat said:
At that time I had private and instrument and was about to start working on commercial. I had 3rd class, I think one only needs 20/40 for that.

I was not working with instructor at that time. Why do you want the instructor present? What would he or she be doing? Just sit in the back?

Also forgot to mention, shortly after my application they sent me another medical with limitation "Valid for student pilot privileges" or smth like that
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My "lazy" eye has corrected vision of worse than 20/40 -- it's about 20/60. So I wouldn't even be able to start with a 3rd class. I asked about the instructor because I won't be eligible to solo if I don't have any flight training done yet (I don't even have a PPL yet). Yeah, the instructor would probably just sit in the back I guess. Basically, I want to be sure that I can get the SODA/Medical right away prior to investing in a lot of flight training.
Thanks!
 
So your "good" eye is corrected to 20/25 and "bad" to 20/60?

If that's the case I don't think you can get the 1st class. I remember my AME mentioned that for monovision SODA your better eye must be solid 20/20 corrected.

Talk to the doctor and see what he thinks.


In either case I still don't see how the CFI in the back seat would change the fact that you're not signed off to solo. It's not like there's third set of controls in the back.
 
hammerhat said:
So your "good" eye is corrected to 20/25 and "bad" to 20/60?

If that's the case I don't think you can get the 1st class. I remember my AME mentioned that for monovision SODA your better eye must be solid 20/20 corrected.

Talk to the doctor and see what he thinks.


In either case I still don't see how the CFI in the back seat would change the fact that you're not signed off to solo. It's not like there's third set of controls in the back.
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My good eye is 20/15, thankfully! But yes, my bad eye is 20/60. I'll talk to the AME and see what he thinks. If I talk to him in a regular, non-FAA medical exam appointment, does he have to report anything, or is it confidential?
Thanks!
 
Pilot121 said:
I'll talk to the AME and see what he thinks. If I talk to him in a regular, non-FAA medical exam appointment, does he have to report anything, or is it confidential?
Thanks!
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A consultation is always confidential. Some AMEs that specialize in difficult cases make a big chunk of their income from consultations! :) You should be walking into that FAA exam pretty darn confident that you know how it's going to go. Talk to your AME.
 
Ruck said:
A consultation is always confidential. Some AMEs that specialize in difficult cases make a big chunk of their income from consultations! :) You should be walking into that FAA exam pretty darn confident that you know how it's going to go. Talk to your AME.
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I appreciate the help!:)
 
Pilot121 said:
I appreciate the help!:)
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Check out the general aviation forums, too - lots of folks on those who are older or not in the same health as most posters here, and there's some good info on what to do in a variety of situations. Thus far in my short flying journey I haven't had any issues, but I'm always thinking ahead to what happens when I get older, if any issues crop up that aren't present now, etc etc. :)
 
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