All things LASIK surgery (aircrew/other -- merged)

[freekers]

Has anyone had any news since then? I'm eager to know. I saw the US Navy and marines are open-minded enough to let people gone under lasik in their cockpits, and I have heard that the Canadian Air Force was analysing feedback of the US Navy for early experiments on lasik after-effects under hi-G stress.

Vision is a basic requirement, and not even a skill, I think we should let everyone the chance to prove its skills and motivation to serve our country at 30000 feet ;D
 

 

[WannaBeFlyer]

Vision is a basic requirement, and not even a skill, I think we should let everyone the chance to prove its skills and motivation to serve our country at 30000 feet ;D

I have heard this said before; oh no wait - my mistake. Substitute the word "Vision" with "degree" or "B.A." and I have heard it before. Having said that, CEOTP opened the door for those people so I guess you never know!  Having said that things, sorry rumours, can take a LONG time to become fact IF they do...

Just as an example, I went through the process with three friends who had 20/20 but were told they did not satisfy the requirements. I still here from them almost a year later (with the exception of one who cringes at the word Recruiting) and they are still holding their breath for the same news...

Good luck...

Edit: Sorry forgot to add that others (not me mind you) will say:
- call the recruiting centre and find out
- the basic eligibility requirements are what they are, accept them and get on with your life (I heard this a lot !) 

 

[freekers]

Ok so let's get on with our lives. Completing my M.Eng in aerospace engineering next year is not enough to have a seat in a CF18 but IF, since then, they open the door to LASIK then I will be there to take my chance for sure.

I wait on monday to call the recruiting center. I indeed believe there is little chance that these requirements have changed just now (the synchro would just be too good), but who knows...

I'll post the info if I get it. 

 

[Sigop2004]

Post removed so no one gets offended

 

[aesop081]

Not meaning to troll or anything but how many bombs have Canadian pilots dropped on allies lately.

If you had any idea what its like to work in a warplane at high speeds in an fast changing environment, you wouldnt be spouting off idiotic comments like this.  If you know nothing of the subject, then back away from your keyboard. Blue-on-blue incidents are usualy a case of miscomunication or confusion on the battle field, before jumping to conclusion and mashing the keys to post on here, think a little while longer.

 

[George Wallace]

This Topic is LOCKED

Reason:  Same questions being asked by people too lazy to read the whole topic (and this is a short two page one).

Anyone with any further information that has not been put forward so far, please contact a Mod and it will be included/reopened.

 

[razor]

Hi everybody. I recently applyed for pilot/airnav and completed the aptitude, 1, 2 medical and interview no problem. Now I have to go and get some more medicals done such as eye exams and blood tests.

I havnt gotten my vision tested in a while and at the cfrc they told me I has 6/6 in the right and 6/9 in the left. Now I dont know what happened but as far as Im concerned you cant be a pilot in the military without 6/6 in each eye. I got an eye exam in a week and Im kind of nervous. 

Also anyone know whats next in my venture?

Much help and advise is appreciated.

-Razor

 

[George Wallace]

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[Michael OLeary]

If you search on pilot vision, limiting the search to the last 365 days, and restricting the search to these boards:
* Recruiting
* Physical Standards
* Enrolment Medical
....you wil get a return of four threads have recent discussions on pilot vision requirements.

 

[Michael OLeary]

The following section has been added to the Recruiting FAQ:

Vision Threads for Pilot Applicants(eyesight)

for those with bad eyes....
The CF policy on laser eye surgery for Pilots? Unfair?
Vision 20/16
Becoming a Pilot
Colour Blindness
Need advice ... in a tough situation
Pilot Vision Requirement Changes
laser eye for pilot
Have the exact vision requirements for pilot changed?

 

[RetiredRoyal]

Lasik with custom wavefront and no intralase. I chose microkeratome as the FDA does not support the claim you get better results with intralase, only less operative and post op complications. My centre uses the Hanson microkeratome which has a lower operative complication rate than any around. I also chose microkeratome over intralase because of the shorter suction time on the eye. The internal pressure in your eye is delicate, the shorter time the suction ring is on, the better.

My results....went from 20/400 (I could make out the big E, sort of) in each eye to 20/20 individually and 20/15 binocular. That was 18 hours after surgery. My surgeons says it should improve slightly over the next 3 months.

My experience, excellent. Highly recommended, worth every penny. They sent me home with 'bubbles' taped to my face, you can't see through them well as they fog up very quickly, the idea is to create high humidity around your eyes until the follow up. You take them off for the drops and put htem right back on.

I did not experience the burning or scratchy feeling some find. I did get a little discomfort in my left eye as the freezing wore off and could feel the swelling of the flap when i blinked until I put my eyedrops in when I got home.

I was cleared to drive after 18 hours, have had to ground myself from flying for 3 months etc. My vision is much clearer now, colours are more brilliant and printed words look crisper.

I got the surgery because I'm trying to re-enroll and after the 2005 medical standards change, i would have gone from a V3 on release to a V5 at re-enrollment.

Wonder if I would have gotten kicked out because of my vision if I'd stayed in?

 

[russianfrontphotos]

Just wanted to let you all know that there is a new rule in place regarding laser eye surgery.
I had my CFAT late June and had my Med and Interview set for July 12th. I told the lady at the booking counter that I was going to have
laser eye surgery on June 29th. She said it didn't matter. I called the office 2 days before the med & interview and I was told that I must now wait 3 months after the surgery date to have my medical. So that means end of September for me. I could have gone ahead with the interview but I decided to postpone that to medical day as to not have to make 2 trips downtown.

So be advised. Don't know if this is a Vancouver office rule or a new forces-wide rule. A Cpl in the centre said this new rule JUST came into place. She was advised from above. Reading back through this post there does seem to have been a mandatory wait in the past. Its strange then that the counter lady was clueless about it??

 

[labattblue]

Is there any wait period after having laser eye before being able to deploy?

 

[PMedMoe]

Wow, I did a "search" for laser eye surgery and look what I came up with:

http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/26412.0.html

 

[old medic]

There is a period spent on a temporary category immediately after the surgery.
Expect it to be anywhere from 3 to 6 months.

http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/26417.0.html

Then if you are below spec, you may get the surgery if...

1. Granted permission from CO,
2. Go on 6 - 12 temp medical catagory,
3. Pay for it yourself..

Then you have to be cleared V2 or higher by Opthamoligist (if your paying $1500, your eyes better be V1).

They have shortened the TCat to 3 months, if you go right to the end of that thread.

 

[bisonmedic]

As far as I recall, there is no TCAT after the surgery is done. The changes happened a ways back, but I can confirm soonest. 

 

[Armymedic]

until I was healed (approx 3 months).  That was it.  No TCat.

By the letter of the law, any recovery time > 3 months should be a TCat. Your MO was just avoiding the extra paperwork.

 

[bisonmedic]

As long as you are following the direction of the MD that performed your procedure and there are no problems with your eyes, then you shouldn't have a category. You should visit the medics and get some workplace limitations IE, no contact sports, no close quarter combat etc for the duration of your healing process.

 

[Sig_Des]

Great news, and I love the Highlighted bit:

CANFORGEN 069/08 CAS 014 081205Z APR 08
LASER (EYE) REFRACTIVE SURGERY IN CF AIRCREW
UNCLASSIFIED


REFS: A. 6600-1 (CAS) 20 MAR 08
HTTP://VCDS.MIL.CA//CAS/DMCS2005/FILES0/DMCS-17864.PDF
B. 1150-1 (SSO AV MED) 22 OCT 07
C. RODS 1150-1 (CAS MED ADV) OCT 07
D. AMA DIRECTIVE 400-02 LASER REFRACTIVE SURGERY FOR CF AIRCREW
HTTP://WINNIPEG.MIL.CA/1CDNAIRDIVSURG/FLTSURG/GUIDELINES.HTM
E. FSG 400-01 VISUAL STANDARDS FOR CF AIRCREW
F. A-GA-005-000/AG-001 CHAP 7 - MEDICAL STANDARDS FOR CF AIRCREW



THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO COMMUNICATE RECENT CHANGES MADE TO CF POLICY ON LASER REFRACTIVE SURGERY IN AIRCREW


IN THE PAST, PILOT APPLICANTS WHO HAD UNDERGONE CORRECTIVE LASER REFRACTIVE SURGERY WERE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ENTRY INTO AIRCREW OCCUPATIONS. SERVING PILOTS WERE ALSO DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERGO LASER REFRACTIVE SURGERY TO CORRECT FOR REFRACTIVE ERRORS


AT REF A, CAS ENDORSED THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE AEROMEDICAL POLICY AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE (REF B) TO APPROVE LASER REFRACTIVE SURGERY FOR CF AIRCREW INCLUDING PILOTS. THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE FOLLOWING THE CF REFRACTIVE SURGERY SYMPOSIUM (REF C) AND ARE CAPTURED IN THE AEROSPACE MEDICINE AUTHORITY DIRECTIVE 400-02 LASER REFRACTIVE SURGERY FOR CF AIRCREW (REF D)


REFER TO REF A OR REF D FOR THE FULL LIST OF APPROVED/NON-APPROVED PROCEDURES


IN ALL CASES, APPLICANTS AND SERVING MEMBERS MUST STILL MEET THE VISION STANDARDS DETAILED AT REFS E AND F


AS THE CF DOES NOT YET INCLUDE LASER REFRACTIVE SURGERY IN ITS SPECTRUM OF CARE, BOTH THE DECISION TO UNDERTAKE SUCH SURGERY AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CF MEMBER. PLEASE NOTE HOWEVER THAT WRITTEN CHAIN OF COMMAND APPROVAL IS STILL REQUIRED BY SERVING MEMBERS PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF ANY LASER REFRACTIVE SURGERY. FOR DETAILS CONCERNING ELIGIBILITY AND STANDARDS, INDIVIDUALS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT EITHER THEIR LOCAL RECRUITING CENTRE OR THEIR LOCAL FLIGHT SURGEON.


FUNDING: A CF FUNDING POLICY FOR LASER REFRACTIVE SURGERY IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT. UNTIL THIS POLICY IS PROMULGATED, EXPENSES FOR THESE PROCEDURES MUST BE BORNE BY THE CF MEMBER

 

[PuckChaser]

I think my dream of flying is somewhat nearer!!! I think I'll wait a little while after my surgery on Wednesday to CT though.  ;D

Great news though, especially since the USAF and USN pilots are allowed to get it done.

Anyone with DWAN access that can let me know whether they are specific on what type of surgery you can get (PRK or LASIK) in REF A??? One thing about being on postdeployment leave, no cool DWAN access!!