I am sure this has been brought up before but I am looking for current info.
I am having trouble finding out who to speak with at TC about this. I am looking at getting the lasik done soon but am afraid it will invalidate my medical...
Just curious if someone has gone thru this before and has any thoughts....
Thanks
Beacon
Lasik Eye Surgery
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Beacon Final
- Rank 5
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- Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2004 9:41 am
- Location: not my parents basement!
Lasik Eye Surgery
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Talk with the doctor that does your medical. If he doesn't know the answer off the top of his head he will know who to direct you to. If you are a student pilot and haven't got your medical yet ask your flight school for a list of medical examiners and call on of them.
Just from personal experience there was a troll, er......pilot I worked with who got the surgery done. She was grounded for about a month and then back making our life misereable
Just from personal experience there was a troll, er......pilot I worked with who got the surgery done. She was grounded for about a month and then back making our life misereable
Lazik surgery will invalidate your medical for a period of at least 6 months, to give time to your eyes heal and adjust (it really takes only a few weeks but you know TC...). During the first few weeks, you WILL freak out because at night you will most probably see halos around lights and you will be afraid that these will remain forever. They didn't for me.
Unless you're very, very sure what you're getting yourself into, my advice would be not to do it. There are many potential risks that a lot of private surgeons won't tell you about. Remember, they're in it for your money.
I've had lazik done on me prior to starting in aviation, in fact if I didn't do it I wouldn't have been able to become a pilot. BUT, I did an 8-month research on the procedure and all its risks before getting the 45-second operation. A LOT can happen during those 45 seconds and you could potentially say goodbye to piloting forever. I know I sound a tad alarmist but I really want to stress the fact that people shouldn't get this done unless it is absolutely required. You only have one pair of eyes and you can never get them back if something goes wrong.
Oh, and don't go for the cheapest surgeons either
I went for the guys who had the most experience at the time, using german equipment as it was the best equipment available at that moment in time. The american lasers are less precise and because of FDA policies, they couldn't import foreign equipment. Anyway, maybe that changed in the past years. It did cost me but when it comes to my eyes, money is no object. Luckily, some of the best surgeons are in Canada.
Do some research. A lot of it. Talk to doctors, talk to ophtalmologists (not optometrists). Google. You will find some pretty horrific stories. But no, people don't go blind from doing this.
Unless you're very, very sure what you're getting yourself into, my advice would be not to do it. There are many potential risks that a lot of private surgeons won't tell you about. Remember, they're in it for your money.
I've had lazik done on me prior to starting in aviation, in fact if I didn't do it I wouldn't have been able to become a pilot. BUT, I did an 8-month research on the procedure and all its risks before getting the 45-second operation. A LOT can happen during those 45 seconds and you could potentially say goodbye to piloting forever. I know I sound a tad alarmist but I really want to stress the fact that people shouldn't get this done unless it is absolutely required. You only have one pair of eyes and you can never get them back if something goes wrong.
Oh, and don't go for the cheapest surgeons either
I went for the guys who had the most experience at the time, using german equipment as it was the best equipment available at that moment in time. The american lasers are less precise and because of FDA policies, they couldn't import foreign equipment. Anyway, maybe that changed in the past years. It did cost me but when it comes to my eyes, money is no object. Luckily, some of the best surgeons are in Canada.Do some research. A lot of it. Talk to doctors, talk to ophtalmologists (not optometrists). Google. You will find some pretty horrific stories. But no, people don't go blind from doing this.
No Brakes
"Flying is simple. You just throw yourself at the ground and miss." Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
"Flying is simple. You just throw yourself at the ground and miss." Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
You might learn a thing or two from the Civil Aviation Medicine area Refractive Eye Surgery
Or maybe not...
Or maybe not...
I agree, do your research and make sure you want to do it, it's a personal decision.
You don't "lose" your medical, it's invalidated. The wait period for me was 3 months, then you're required to have your vision tested and the results evaluated by Aviation Medicine.
I have nothing good to say about it but I'm sure there are the odd cases out there that haven't had the best outcome. If your vision is really really bad, they might not be able to correct it with one procedure and will recommend an enhancement
I do agree though, don't go to the cheapest. You only have one set of eyes.
I myself wholeheartedly recommend it but like I said, it's a personal decision.
You don't "lose" your medical, it's invalidated. The wait period for me was 3 months, then you're required to have your vision tested and the results evaluated by Aviation Medicine.
I have nothing good to say about it but I'm sure there are the odd cases out there that haven't had the best outcome. If your vision is really really bad, they might not be able to correct it with one procedure and will recommend an enhancement
I do agree though, don't go to the cheapest. You only have one set of eyes.
I myself wholeheartedly recommend it but like I said, it's a personal decision.
Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace. The soul that knows it not,knows no release from the little things; knows not the livid loneliness of fear, nor mountain heights where bitter joy can hear the sound of wings.
- Amelia Earhart
- Amelia Earhart
When I first applied for a cat 1 they (tc) refused me under vision, so I talked to the chief med examiner in Ottawa at the time (late 80's) about surgery...he said not to have the procedure but to get my cat 3 then reapply for cat 1 once I had my private. I did this and have held a cat 1 since. His main concern at the time was the halo effect at night. I know the procedure has gotten alot better since then...but if it aint broke don't fix it.
here's another option. Going overseas and getting it done without anyone in Canada knowing. No, not some basement clinic in some bombed out hole. It is becoming very popular to go overseas to resorts which offer very highly paid doctors for surgery's of various types. Recovery is spent relaxing on the beach. If you can't take 3-6 months med leave, then maybe a few weeks might work. No, I have not done this, not brave enough. I'm guessing it'll be more expensive than staying home. As for answering questions when you do your next medical, if you don't trust your examiner, then buy glasses with non-prescription lenses. And no, I'm not recommending this, it's just another available option I thought you might find interesting...
Not sure if this helps as it has been a little over 2 years since I had my laser eye surgery.
First thing, calling all the different TC Medical Offices around the country will only give you a multitude of different responses. At the time the best region to deal with was with Dr. Pfaff (not sure if he is still the head honcho) of the Toronto office. He answered all my questions. And, 2 years ago this was the case...
1) If you were in a 2-crew flying environment, your medical was suspended for 1 month (thus no flying), conditional for the second and third month. TC is to be faxed with all the follow-up examination reports provided by your surgeon.
Started flying again in months 2 & 3 (as long as your flying in a 2 -crew environ. and both of you are PPC'd).
Full medical received on the 3 month anniv. after the surgery once the surgeon faxed Dr. Pfaff.
2) If you are SINGLE PILOT your medical is suspended for 3 MONTHS, and conditional for the next 3. Hence, 6 months. Only suggest this route if you are a seasonal float pilot. Had a friend of mine do it this way.
The former case applied to myself and I've had no problems. Better than 20/20 in each eye. However, do your homework on the subject. DON'T go to the places that give you a deal on the surgery! At the time I had a relatively new procedure called Intralase performed which cost more, but had a greater success rate as it was more accurate a procedure than LASIK which uses the microkeratome. Intralase uses a laser to create the corneal flap as opposed to the LASIK method which uses a surgical blade to create the flap. My research into the subject at the time was 1 in 1000 chance of complications with LASIK using the microkeratome, and 1 in 5000 with Intralase. Hence, my decision to spend the extra coin. I can suggest TLC in Toronto. That's where I had mine done. http://www.tlcv.com. Good luck!
First thing, calling all the different TC Medical Offices around the country will only give you a multitude of different responses. At the time the best region to deal with was with Dr. Pfaff (not sure if he is still the head honcho) of the Toronto office. He answered all my questions. And, 2 years ago this was the case...
1) If you were in a 2-crew flying environment, your medical was suspended for 1 month (thus no flying), conditional for the second and third month. TC is to be faxed with all the follow-up examination reports provided by your surgeon.
Started flying again in months 2 & 3 (as long as your flying in a 2 -crew environ. and both of you are PPC'd).
Full medical received on the 3 month anniv. after the surgery once the surgeon faxed Dr. Pfaff.
2) If you are SINGLE PILOT your medical is suspended for 3 MONTHS, and conditional for the next 3. Hence, 6 months. Only suggest this route if you are a seasonal float pilot. Had a friend of mine do it this way.
The former case applied to myself and I've had no problems. Better than 20/20 in each eye. However, do your homework on the subject. DON'T go to the places that give you a deal on the surgery! At the time I had a relatively new procedure called Intralase performed which cost more, but had a greater success rate as it was more accurate a procedure than LASIK which uses the microkeratome. Intralase uses a laser to create the corneal flap as opposed to the LASIK method which uses a surgical blade to create the flap. My research into the subject at the time was 1 in 1000 chance of complications with LASIK using the microkeratome, and 1 in 5000 with Intralase. Hence, my decision to spend the extra coin. I can suggest TLC in Toronto. That's where I had mine done. http://www.tlcv.com. Good luck!
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Beacon Final
- Rank 5
- Posts: 358
- Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2004 9:41 am
- Location: not my parents basement!
thanks
Thank you one and all for the info.
I am glad to hear the wait (if all goes well) is not 2 years. Hard to get a straight answer from TC. Go figure. lol
Some great posts. Thanks. Think I have a better idea of what I am getting into.
I am glad to hear the wait (if all goes well) is not 2 years. Hard to get a straight answer from TC. Go figure. lol
Some great posts. Thanks. Think I have a better idea of what I am getting into.
Duffman: Hey Duff lovers! Does anyone in this bar loooove Duff?
Carl: Hey, it's Duffman!
Lenny: Newsweek said you died of liver failure.
Duffman: Duffman can never die, only the actors who play him. Ooh yeah!
Carl: Hey, it's Duffman!
Lenny: Newsweek said you died of liver failure.
Duffman: Duffman can never die, only the actors who play him. Ooh yeah!
I paid to get my ex wifes eyes fixed 2 years ago. She didn't qualify for LASIK, and had to get the more-invasive PRK surgery. My ex-mom-in-law got LASIK done at the same time.
Neither of them have any regrets, and both say that it is one of the best decisions that they have ever made. Even with the longer recovery time of PRK, the ex was up and back to normal within a month or so (normal night vision, etc.). If there is no question that you'll get the medical activated within a couple of months, I wholeheartedly recommend either procedure.
On a side note, if you're looking at getting it done in the lower mainland, Coal Harbor Eye Centre (I think that was the name?) was the option we went for and they were extremely professional. They weren't the cheapest alternative, but when you've got frickin' sharks with frickin' laser beams shooting at your eyes, cheapest probably isn't the best. I highly recommend them.
Neither of them have any regrets, and both say that it is one of the best decisions that they have ever made. Even with the longer recovery time of PRK, the ex was up and back to normal within a month or so (normal night vision, etc.). If there is no question that you'll get the medical activated within a couple of months, I wholeheartedly recommend either procedure.
On a side note, if you're looking at getting it done in the lower mainland, Coal Harbor Eye Centre (I think that was the name?) was the option we went for and they were extremely professional. They weren't the cheapest alternative, but when you've got frickin' sharks with frickin' laser beams shooting at your eyes, cheapest probably isn't the best. I highly recommend them.
Hmmm
Ok..
So let me get this straight....you need a month to 3 months off work....of healing time.. maybe more....I don't know that I know of a company that will give you that time off.....i'm betting there are some guys out there that are getting the procedure done... maybe taking a few weeks off... for healing...and comin back to work.. all be it...probably working with 20/20 vision....what do they do when it comes medical time?....claim ignorance?...and hope??...
I've been thinkin about getting this done for along time.. I HATE GLASSES.....just dont know how to go about doing it?...anyone in the same boat?.. or ideas to get around some of the issues?
So let me get this straight....you need a month to 3 months off work....of healing time.. maybe more....I don't know that I know of a company that will give you that time off.....i'm betting there are some guys out there that are getting the procedure done... maybe taking a few weeks off... for healing...and comin back to work.. all be it...probably working with 20/20 vision....what do they do when it comes medical time?....claim ignorance?...and hope??...
I've been thinkin about getting this done for along time.. I HATE GLASSES.....just dont know how to go about doing it?...anyone in the same boat?.. or ideas to get around some of the issues?
Hey folks,
Just got my eyes done. I opted to do the Zyoptics procedure (newest technology) vs. the standard Lasik. Its been almost a week now and my eyes are great! Night vision isn't bad and improving quickly. If you got any questions about my results, feel free to ask me. In regards to how long the medical is pulled, I really don't know. I asked Transport and they said usually 3 months but they can reassess after the one month followup. There's a bunch of forms that you have to get from them to get the doctor to sign. They weren't really able to give me an exact time frame though but what's new, its TC.
Just got my eyes done. I opted to do the Zyoptics procedure (newest technology) vs. the standard Lasik. Its been almost a week now and my eyes are great! Night vision isn't bad and improving quickly. If you got any questions about my results, feel free to ask me. In regards to how long the medical is pulled, I really don't know. I asked Transport and they said usually 3 months but they can reassess after the one month followup. There's a bunch of forms that you have to get from them to get the doctor to sign. They weren't really able to give me an exact time frame though but what's new, its TC.
Uhoh, the company I was working for at the time gave me the opportunity to do it.
Whatever you do, do NOT try to BS your way and not tell your examiner. That's just plain stupidity!
Do it right and you'll not be looking over your shoulder.
Whatever you do, do NOT try to BS your way and not tell your examiner. That's just plain stupidity!
Do it right and you'll not be looking over your shoulder.
Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace. The soul that knows it not,knows no release from the little things; knows not the livid loneliness of fear, nor mountain heights where bitter joy can hear the sound of wings.
- Amelia Earhart
- Amelia Earhart
Best money i ever spent. There's just one form to be filled out by the doctor. I wasn't flying full-time when i got it done. I think there was 3 month medical suspension. That may have change to Doctors discrestion. Had no problems getting my medical renewed. The only thing i needed was the one form from the surgeon and to read the chart across the wall. That's it. Talk to the eye surgery clinic odds are they have had pilots come through before.
It took about two weeks for my eyes to get back to what I considered normal (and what the doc said was 20/20). I never looked into what TC thought was needed for it in terms of recoup time. I did of course find out that they would still allow me to fly with it.
When it came time for my next medical, I talked to the aviation doc about it. He asked if I was experiencing any artifacts or night haloing. I told him I wasn't and that I had been extremely happy with the surgery. I passed my medical. On my way out, he gave me a form to get signed from my optometrist to confirm the fact that I dont suffer from any of the halos, etc.
The form required the information from the post op visits (I think 1,2,3,6 month).
I suppose my ignorance got me through it without any temporary loss of my ticket.
When it came time for my next medical, I talked to the aviation doc about it. He asked if I was experiencing any artifacts or night haloing. I told him I wasn't and that I had been extremely happy with the surgery. I passed my medical. On my way out, he gave me a form to get signed from my optometrist to confirm the fact that I dont suffer from any of the halos, etc.
The form required the information from the post op visits (I think 1,2,3,6 month).
I suppose my ignorance got me through it without any temporary loss of my ticket.
