Lasik in just one eye - Will it be an issue for Class 3 Medical?

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nvestr
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Lasik in just one eye - Will it be an issue for Class 3 Medical?

Post by nvestr »

Folks,

I hold a Class 3 medical and fly actively as an airplane owner. I had Custom bladeless LASIK in 2011 and it worked amazing. I went from -6.00 prescription to seeing 20/15 with no halos/starbursts and no dry eye issues. Basically a perfect result. Unfortunately, I did get a bit of a regression 3-4 years ago and now wear glasses to fly and drive (with a -0.75 prescription, nothing crazy).

I just had my medical renewed in Dec 2024 and CAME did not put a restriction on my medical that I need to fly with glasses, as I fell within the Class 3 guidelines uncorrected (I think).

I am thinking of doing a LASIK enhancement (through their free lifetime warranty). At my consultation, they suggested I could only correct my dominant eye. By leaving the other eye at -0.75, it allow me to much delay if not eliminate the need for reading glasses in the next 10 years (I am 38). My brain would most likely adapt and get my distant vision from my dominant eye and near vision from my non-dominant.

Do we think this will be an issue getting my "all clear" to fly? Part of me thinks it may not be a major issue as my weak eye is still within the Class 3 guidelines. Any experiences to share?

For enhancements, they only do 1 eye at a time, so either way I have to start with 1 eye anyway. I can opt to go with the second or stop there after 30 days. TC also happens to want a follow-up report from the surgeon/clinic after 30 days.

Alternatively, I would have no issue wearing glasses with a prescription in the right eye only. My desire for the enhancement does not have anything to do with flying, it's more for day-to-day (watching TV, recognizing people across a room, etc.)
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