Laser Eye Surgery

[low-flyer]

Im thinking about getting my eyes fixed and i figured i better see what everone has to say about it on here..

how long should you be off work for?? if TC has any time restrictions or anything???

and if any pilots have had it done, i'd like to hear what they think about it, and maybe where they got it done??

pretty much any imput will help!!

cheers

[Just another canuck]

I don't wear glasses but have talked to quite a few people who have had it done. One of my buddy's mom's did and her eyes got even worse after a few months but this is when it was still sort of new.

A really good friend of mine did it and told me about how they cut part of your eye off and put it back on... I've actually seen the procedure on discovery. I wouldn't want it done to me. Anyway, my friend said that a good whiplash or blow to the head could actually knock that piece of eye loose that was previously cut off. I'm wondering if good shot of turbulence could do the same. Just a thought.

Someone else will have a better answer... I just wanted to bring up the turbulence thing in the matter. I'm curious.

[LegoMan]

If you interested in ever flying as an expat contract pilot, getting laser eye surgery will disqualify you from getting a medical from certain countries. Japan is very strict against it.

[Doc]

You have one pair of eyes. That's it. If it's less than a perfect job you are screwed! And, it has happened. Glasses are really not that bad. We all wear sun glasses. Plus, a pair of glasses can be a margin of safety against all manner of foreign object damage. Twigs, sand etc. Ponder that for a moment. I wouldn't even entertain the idea.

[Just another canuck]

I am also against it. Didn't say at first... was waiting to see what others thought. Like I said earlier, don't need it anyway, don't even wear glasses. But I do find it very interesting that you can be disqualified for the surgery in certain countries. Would these countries have passed you on the medical with your pre-existing eye condition? Is it because of the fact that that piece of eye can fall off?

My friend who got it done is a cop and apparently that's okay... cop gets in tussle with criminal, knocks eyes loose, criminal wins. That wouldn't be so good.

[Cap'n P8]

I had PRK done in 1994. I still do not require glasses although I probably will soon enough I guess (your eyes continue to age normally).

The surgery with the flap is LASIK a different type.

PRK stands for Photo Refractive Keretectomy. They first scan and map your eye to see if you will be suitable. Then they make the corrections with individual pulses fired by the doctor to reshape the surface.

Unlike LASIK, with PRK the eye still has over 90% of it's strength.

As a precaution, the clinic that I did mine at will only do one eye at a time with a month wait in between, to be sure that there were no problems with the surgery.

[lilfssister]

search.php?keywords=LASIK&terms=all&aut ... mit=Search

[Flybabe]

Having had this done, the concept that anyone could "knock part of your eye loose" is very very VERY hard to believe. The eye is a very dynamic organ.Besides, with Lasik, it's a flap, it's not completely severed.

I'm trying to picture that happening.. LOL.

[Just another canuck]

Having had this done, the concept that anyone could "knock part of your eye loose" is very very VERY hard to believe. The eye is a very dynamic organ.Besides, with Lasik, it's a flap, it's not completely severed.

I'm trying to picture that happening.. LOL.

The surgery I saw on Discovery was completely severed. And my cop friend, being a cop, was warned that whiplash, say from a car accident or a fight may cause the "flap" to shift. I guess with that occupation it could be a liability.

Anyway, unless you are absolutely certain that you don't want to work as an expat, then I would just keep the glasses. Glad my vision is perfect and I don't have to worry about such things.

[Cat Driver]

Glad my vision is perfect and I don't have to worry about such things.

What you have to do is make sure you live long enough in the flying game so you can one day get glasses so you can see things like when you were young.

[Just another canuck]

Glad my vision is perfect and I don't have to worry about such things.

What you have to do is make sure you live long enough in the flying game so you can one day get glasses so you can see things like when you were young.

Haha... I will try my best to live up to this.

[Doc]

Well, thanks to early issues from a certain Hugh Hefner, I found myself wearing glasses at a young age.
I know a girl who had 20/200 vision. She did the deed and has been very happy with it.

[Flybabe]

Ok.. well, 2 things here.

With Lasik, the flap is hinged.. not severed. If you saw it completely removed, then they weren't doing that procedure. No big deal though, I'm not a Opthamologist. I certainly don't know everything.

Anyways, second thing - it would take an incredible INCREDIBLE trauma to the head for the flap to shift. The cornea essentially sucks itself back on and heals very very quickly. I think if a person suffered the trauma needed to dislocate the flap, there would be bigger things to be concerned about - such as who inherits your belongings. Sorry, but having had this done TWICE... there's no way I can believe that claim. LOL.

On a side note, you shouldn't be driving for bout a week after the procedure.

My vision also was about 20/200. I needed an enhancement due to astigmatism. I'm very happy with the outcome but DO have very dry eyes now (they were dry to start with but it's kinda like the Sahara desert now).

[lilfssister]

... good whiplash or blow to the head could actually knock that piece of eye loose that was previously cut off. I'm wondering if good shot of turbulence could do the same. Just a thought.

Like any other body tissue, sure, if you disturbed it the day of or the day after surgery, the unhealed tissue may separate from the adjacent tissue. After a few days, weeks, months...I think not? It would heal the same as any cut to any other body tissue.

[av8tor_assrope]

Hey,

I've also been thinking about getting my eyes zapped the last little while. Is there anyone on here who has had it done recently? Does TC still pull your medical for 3 months?

[Just another canuck]

... good whiplash or blow to the head could actually knock that piece of eye loose that was previously cut off. I'm wondering if good shot of turbulence could do the same. Just a thought.

Like any other body tissue, sure, if you disturbed it the day of or the day after surgery, the unhealed tissue may separate from the adjacent tissue. After a few days, weeks, months...I think not? It would heal the same as any cut to any other body tissue.

I'm no opthamologist either... this info is coming from a guy who had it is all. And what he said was that piece never, ever completely heals. It is a major concern I guess and was discussed with my friend.

Flybabe, I'm not trying to call you out on this or anything. I've never had any such procedure. This is just second hand info. I'm gonna do a little research. I might even give my buddy a call.

I should mention that he had really, really bad vision. So maybe it was a slightly different procedure. Anyone else have info on this.

Why am I taking such concern in this??

[The Mole]

Best 2K i ever spent. TC has no issues with it at all. There's one form to be filled out with pre and post info by an optometrist. That's it. Can't remember the wait time. I wasn't flying that winter so i didn't come up. TC's web site has all the info you need. I had no issues, 15/20 vision and better night vision than before.

[AlXpat]

I had Lasik surgery in 2000 from a doctor who had performed this before more than 13k times. He lifted a portion of the cornea, then sent the laser to 'permanently' correct my vision. At that point in history, they were merely waiting a single day to operate the second eye, as the success rate was positively 100%. Don't get me wrong, though; there might be 'side effects', such as hallow vision at night (from what I heard, one of the most common consequence of Lasik... I might be wrong though?). During the surgery, you will litterally smell your eye burning (or was it my big pile of $$$?). It's uncomfortable, but certainly not painful.

I wasn't a pilot at the time, so am not sure as to for how long TC would ground you. I have heard that some major airlines won't hire, especially those outside of Canada. I was heavily impaired by my bad sighting, plus astigmatism, so I really didn't care of the consequences at the time. All in all, a great success even 8 yrs later!

As for where to get it done, go for reputation. Find yourself a Doctor's name, first. Ask who's doing the Military, Cops, etc, around where you live.

Thanks, Lasik

[Flybabe]

Flybabe, I'm not trying to call you out on this or anything. I've never had any such procedure. This is just second hand info. I'm gonna do a little research. I might even give my buddy a call.

LOL - J.A.C. -

No worries, I didn't think you were. I was just trying to pass on personal experience and information.

I'm still trying to picture it, though.. LOL

In any case, it's wise to gather opinions from people that have had the procedure done. Helps with the final decision, which is an INTENSELY personal one.

...you will litterally smell your eye burning (or was it my big pile of $$$

Definitely your eye. LOL.. I smelled it too. My mom watched.. said she would never EVER do it again. LOL!

[Cap'n P8]

Did you guys know that in the US the military will cover the costs for this surgery for their members...including aircrew. That should tell you something.

[Just another canuck]

It's obviously been proven as a great, beneficial procedure... if the the Yanks are doing it for their Air Force guys....well. But that still doesn't explain why some countries won't have you due to the surgery?? Where's the flaw/downside? Why would a country like Japan say, sorry sir, you've had laser eye surgery, you are OUT.

[Flybabe]

There's no telling why.

For the longest time, the military in Canada AND the US wouldn't approve the procedure. It was labelled as "experimental" for years, may still be.

Perhaps Japan has a policy of requiring 50 years proof of success, who knows. I would suggest that, if the US military now accepts and PROMOTES it (if this is true, I don't know) then perhaps that's a good sign that they have faith in it.

[Just another canuck]

if the US military now accepts and PROMOTES it (if this is true, I don't know) then perhaps that's a good sign that they have faith in it.

My thoughts exactly...

[Roar]

I had the Lasik done in Nov. 2002 and it was the best money I've ever spent, I went from 20/200 before the procedure to 20/10 after it. I also have no night vision problems (haloing) which they warn can happen.
The advice I would give is to research the procedure and transport Canada's requirements for pilots who get it ( when I did it I was not able to fly for 6 months) this may have changed but I'm not sure what the current limits are. Also DON'T cheap out and go to a discount place for the surgery, I went to the Gimbel Eye Centre in YYC and waited for Dr. Gimbel himself to do the surgery. Dr. Gimbel helped in the development of Lasik and is considered to be a world leader in the field. It was my eyes and my profession on the line, for me I wanted the best.

[mellow_pilot]

The Canadian Forces now allow pilots to have certain types of laser-eye surgery, as long as the correction brings them up to an acceptable standard. The CF will not cover the cost (yet) but there is no restriction on types flown (ie, you can still fly fighters with zapped eyes) which would lead me to believe that the 'turbulence argument' really isn't a reason not to do it. That said, I know jack-all about laser-eye stuff, civi regs concerning it, or foreign airline attitudes.

(info only, not opinion)