Nearsided?

FLY_CRJ

FLY_CRJ

New Member
I got my class 3 exam today, and I was tottaly shocked when he told me I barely passed the vision cause I came up nearsided. Suposedly I am 20/30 in the left and 20/40 in the right.

I have been down this eye exam road a few times before and I have always come up 20/20 all across the board. When he said that I almost fell off my chair.

I have always had perfect vision, but he says the FAA requires I be perfect (20/20 20/20 for a first class) in each individual eye, not perfect when both I use both eyes. Yet I asked him wich test was used to determine this, it was a test using both eyes. So I am just blown away. The test seemed skeptical to me, I think I am going to see a vision specialist to see if this is for real. I just cant believe it, I have never worn glasses or contacts and I have no problem seeing very very small distant things.

I am just astonished, will this prevent me from getting a first class? Does having corrected vision on my restrictions keep me from a first class?

....never thought I would have to wear glasses.
 
As long as its correctable to 20/20 you'll be able to get the first class. BTW your vision is a lot better than mine and I've got a first class.
 
Nearsighted??

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I was just wondering if being nearsided was anything like the Far Side. If so - DUDE - you're gonna be RICH!
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Almost everyone will need glasses sooner or later. It's no big deal unless you plan to fly in the military. Just get a good set of glasses and wear them for the medical.
 
Has anyone ever heard of anyone's nearsightedness and/or astigmatism causing their vision to degrade to the point where they can no longer pass the pysical? I've never had great eyes, and I now have something like a -6.75 diopter correction in one of my eyes (with astigmatism piled on top of that). Maybe in the worst case I could just bail out and do the lasik thing (or there's even something better just around the corner, I've heard)? But is it possible to be so bad that even lasik won't bring you up to snuff? I'm a career changer, and the medical scares me...hesitant to jump ships "blindly" (groan). Anybody have any "insights" (groan again)?
 
hey there, I was similar to you as well, my vision was down to -5.5 and -2.75 (don't konw why the difference...) but i did have a slight stigmatism with it. anyway, I went and had the Lasik surgury and it was the best thing i've done. I also have a first class medical without any problems. feel free to pm me if you want some more info on the sugury
 
You can get lenses up to -20.00 from what I understand. I'm at -7.50 in one eye (and a career changer) so I'm right there with you. No plans to get lasik or any other surgery though...too risky.
 
Hello all,

I'm in the same situation. My eyesight uncorrected is 20/200 uncorrected (high estimate -- I really have to squint to see that line of the Snellen chart) and 20/30 or so corrected. I've never been able to be corrected to 20/20 (hopefully will change soon though with a new prescription at a new eye doctor).

My suggestion is to first look/ask around and try to find the best opthamologist you can -- preferably one who has a record of excellent results with hard to refract eyes. You may have to pay a bit more than usual (Washington Univ. - St. Louis, for example, is $250-$300 for a basic eye exam/refraction), but when it comes to getting the best/most accurate prescription its probably worth it.

The other option is wavefront surgery. Its fairly new (approved by the FDA in 2002 or thereabouts) and is simply an enchanement to Lasik. www.surevision.com has some information about the procedure. With regard to its success I recall reading some figures that were something along the lines of 90% success rate on 20/20 or better. I think this compares to 70% with LASIK, but my numbers may be way off. Its not 100%, though, so at $1900/eye and the chance of never getting a 1st class med., it probably should be a last resort.

What I'm confused about is why the FARs state you must have 20/20 in each eye for a first class medical, yet there are pilots for the airlines who have only one eye ? http://jetcareers.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=143403&page=1&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

If that is the case, then I would make an assumption that it is possible to get a first class medical with 20/20 in only one eye with a waiver.

/Tristan
 
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Word!

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Oh boy. Come on dude, now adays its "werd." with an E!
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get wit da program boi!
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As I understand it, the biggest risk with LASIK is loosing your night vision. Some people do, some people don't. If you can get away with glasses, wear glasses. If you absolutly can't, then it might be a viable option. One thing to note about skibum is that she isn't an active pilot, but did pass the 1st class medical exam without a problem. That's not to say that it's still safe for everyone. Different people have had different results with the surgery, and if you're career is hanging on it when you can get by with glasses it might not be worth it.

Just my opinion.
 
I've got a really good friend that did LASIK, and she says it's the best thing she's ever done. I'd like to get it done, but I can pass the 1st class with my glasses/contacts. I don't feel like potentially blowing my dreams b/c someone slips with a laser beam. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
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I had LASIK before I had Caleb, I was nearsighted and had astigmatism. My rx was -4.75 and getting worse every year. I can see 20/20 in my right eye and 20/10 in my left, now. It bugs me a little to not have them the same, and they would have tried to match them, but it wasn't worth it to me, cause it is a weird and freaking scary thing to go through. I would NEVER go to one of the $200 an eye type places. I paid $2700 total. I called one of the cheaper places and asked about their track record and the guy said "well, there WAS this one time that I cut a guy's flap off all the way....but we were able to stitch it back on..." Um, yikes! I hung up that very second and decided to pay the big bucks for it. I personally don't know any one that has had any problems with their vision, even night vision, but the problem I still have is dryness. My eyes are very light colored and sensitive, but since the LASIK they have been worse. I have to use eye drops every morning. Still worth it though to me, I'd do it again for sure! If you decide to go that route, do your research, get testimonials, and don't go for the cheapest!
 
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I got my class 3 exam today, and I was tottaly shocked when he told me I barely passed the vision cause I came up nearsided. Suposedly I am 20/30 in the left and 20/40 in the right.

I have been down this eye exam road a few times before and I have always come up 20/20 all across the board. When he said that I almost fell off my chair.

I have always had perfect vision, but he says the FAA requires I be perfect (20/20 20/20 for a first class) in each individual eye, not perfect when both I use both eyes. Yet I asked him wich test was used to determine this, it was a test using both eyes. So I am just blown away. The test seemed skeptical to me, I think I am going to see a vision specialist to see if this is for real. I just cant believe it, I have never worn glasses or contacts and I have no problem seeing very very small distant things.

I am just astonished, will this prevent me from getting a first class? Does having corrected vision on my restrictions keep me from a first class?

....never thought I would have to wear glasses.

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Ain't no thing. I have about 20/400 uncorrected, and I hold a current first class medical. Since LASIK is so new, I just won't have it done on my eyes. I just simply wear glasses, and that's fine with me.

By the way...to the poster that said he had to squint to see the snellen chart, I have to ask "what chart?"
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