Degrading vision

[Cops]

Hey guys,

I just wanted to ask if anybody else has had a similar problem to mine. The eyesight in my right eye seems to be getting worse and worse over a short period of time. About 2 years ago, my right eye was 20/30, now it's become 20/80 (maybe lower, I haven't had an eye exam since November). My glasses correct it to 20/20, but I have been noticing things start to get blurry when I use just my right eye. For reference, I'm just about 19.

Basically my concern is that I don't want to reach 20/200 uncorrected as that's legal blindness (goodbye medical). The thing that gets me though is why is this only in one eye? Every optometrist I've been to says it's nothing to worry about but I'm not so sure.

So tell me fellow bespectacled aviators, have you ever had your vision degrade so rapidly? What may be the cause?

[cgzro]

20/200 is most definitely not 'good bye medical' ..

I hit 20/200 when I was 17 .. and that was 30 years ago. Back then it definitely did mean good bye 'class I medical' and hence any chance of a career in aviation.

I know .. I have a class one and am considerably worse uncorrected than 20/200. I believe there is an excemption process.

Speak to your Aviation Medical Examiner.

Your eyes will go in spurts. You can go a few years with no changes then a sudden change. Not much you can do about it except stop growing/aging

Peter

[Lemon]

There is no limit on uncorrected vision for a Cat 1 medical.

Mine is brutal when uncorrected ( something like 20/400)

My contacts correct it to better than 20/20 and i've never had any sort of problems with my Cat 1.

[the_cr]

When my brother was young he had ambliopia, where one eye was worse then the other so the brain began to rely on the good eye. To correct it they put a patch on the good eye to force the brain to get back to using the bad eye.

Possibly something similar. where the mind is giving up on the bad eye because it's worse?

[Cops]

20/200 is most definitely not 'good bye medical' ..

Well this definitely makes me feel better.

Maybe I'm reading the requirements wrong though, because as I interpret them, it says that 20/200 is the cut-off point.

1.35 The applicant shall be required to have a distant visual acuity of not less than 6/9 (20/30) in each eye separately, with or without the use of correcting lenses. Where this standard of visual acuity can be obtained only with correcting lenses the applicant shall be assessed fit provided that (a) such correcting lenses are worn when exercising the privileges of the licence or rating applied for or held;
(b) the applicant possesses a visual acuity without correction in each eye separately, not less than 6/60 (20/200) and the refractive error falls within the range of ± 3.0 diopters (equivalent spherical error);
(amended 2003/06/01)

I'm not sure if that amendment has anything to do with it. Government writing has never quite been my strong point though. I suppose cgzro must be right about an exemption process. Probably based on if your eyes don't show any further signs of getting worse.

[Castorero]

Cops,

go see your Medical Doctor for a chat and exam.

then tells us what she thinks after an examination of your peepers...

[Cops]

Seems logical good sir. I might just have to do that.

[Pete]

Cops does raise a good point...if this is the standard, where is the exemption? I am also curious about this.

[North Shore]

Well, I'm -3.25 in one eye, and -4.75 in the other, and I have a Cat 1. I simply asked for, and was given, an exemption to the vision requirements. i think that I had to write a 'pretty, please?' letter to a tribunal, also

IIRC, my vision changed fairly significantly around 18/19/20, and then stabilised by the time I was in my mid 20's. Talk to your aviation Doc, and then, if that's not working, appeal your case further up the ladder.

From various conversations I've had over the years with the Docs at Transport, they are pretty accommodating of medical 'imperfections' and try to get guys and gals flying as much as possible, commensurate with safety.

Good luck!

[AUGER9]

FWIW my eyes are -5.75 and -6.5. Never had an issue, never even a discussion. Just the normal medical exam everyone does, nothing more.

[warbirdpilot7]

This is often called "macular degeration" I am not a doctor, but someone who believes in a healthy diet(which a good amount of pilots don't have).

You need foods high in beta-carotene and lutein(the body can not make lutein. So it can only come from foods) to maintain vision. Try foods that are bright in colour or dark greens. These foods are great anti-oxidants as well.

1. Carrots
2. Spinach
3. Red/Yellow peppers
4. Corn
5. Kale
6. Tomatoes

All the best in your health and hope this helps

[Old Dog Flying]

Macular Degeneration comes in two types: wet and dry. The wet type progrsses rapidly and unless something is done about it will cause blindness. The dry type is a slow progression and it too will cause blindness if allowed to go too far.

I have Age related MD in the right eye(dry type) which was found on an annual eye exam by my Optometrist. I have received 16 injections of a concoction first developed as a cure for colon rectal cancer and it works on most people with wet AMD...no it does not give you a shitty outlook on life!

The injections are covered by some provincial medical plans while others will not...and they are expensive..but what is your vision worth? The big problem is that some medical examiners will not sign you off as fit if you are having the injections and you might have a hard time from the RAMO. After a 6 month stint, I was re-assessed as Cat 3 without restrictions even though I met the rquirements to fly as a monocular pilot.

Get your eyes checked by an Optometrist or Opthamologist

[Cops]

Thanks for all the info everybody. I have been to an ophthalmologist /optometrist (can't remember the damn difference) and they tell me that there's nothing wrong. And I'm skeptical about macular degeneration. My grandfather has that and from what he describes and from what I have read, it probably isn't that. Luckily he's not related by blood to me so an inheritance of that condition isn't really possible. I'm still confused why it's only one eye though. Oh well, I've got a new set of glasses and I'll keep a watch on this.

Thanks for all your help once again, and safe flying for the rest of this summer. (At least they call it summer here in BC. Weather doesn't seem to agree.)

[Notta Simfalt]

Maybe check your blood sugar. Diabetes will affect eyesight. Sneaks up on you.Also:

Tingling hands or feet

Frequent thirst and urination

More than usual dental problems

[Midnight Sun Flyer]

My eye sight is not as good as it used to be, but with glasses they are still better than 20/20
I have an appointment now to see if I'm a canadate for Lasik surgery, If I am
it will be Lasik surgery this fall to get rid of the glasses.
I talked to Transport Canada Regional Medical Officer and was told 30 days after the surgery
glasses will be removed from My medical paper if the surgery went well.
That would be just about perfect.

[Castorero]

Cops,

go see your Medical Doctor for a chat and exam.

then tells us what she thinks after an examination of your peepers...

"Medical Doctor" ... That would be your GP first, then maybe an "Ophthalmologist" ( medical Doctor with sub-specialty in eye disease and surgery of the eye)

"Optometrist" Is just that ...Trained and qualified to 'meter' or measure your visual acuity and provide you with a pair of eye glasses...

So, go see a medical person, son, there is a difference.