Lasik Eye Surgery

mhockey21

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Sep 27, 2010
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Matt
In December I'm going to have Lasik Eye Surgery, I'm just wondering what I have to do in the way of informing the FAA about what I'm doing so they can remove the corrective lenses statement from the back of my license. I'm really excited about this, anyone have it done?
 
I had it done 10yrs ago. Today I see 20/15 with no complications. I wasn't a pilot when I had it done, so I don't know what the FAA wants you to do post op. But getting my 3rd class a few years ago was no problem. I did get a letter from the FAA indicating that if I did ever have a negative change in my vision, that I was to self ground. Good luck with the procedure!
 
I'm thinkin' that with the FAA Lasik is just a report and then pass the vision portion of your next physical. I believe you're supposed to self ground until your vision is stable and there may be a time period like 30 or 90 days that is assumed by the FAA to be the minimum required for stabilization.

I went with ICL rather than Lasik and the ME told me that Lasik was easier since it didn't require the 10 or 12 page certification form from the opthamalogist.

Of course I'm no expert (but I will stay in a HIE tonight). The info may be available through the FAA website.
 
You DEFINITELY need to talk to your AME before doing it - when I talked to an AME about it (4-5 years ago), he said that the FAA is okay with it, but you are technically grounded (have to wait something like 6 months before flying to make sure that there were no complications).

He basically advised me that as long as my vision was correctable, there really wasn't much point in having it done these days unless you are trying to fly for the military.
 
I guess I should ask this in the AME section on here. whoops haha
 
You DEFINITELY need to talk to your AME before doing it - when I talked to an AME about it (4-5 years ago), he said that the FAA is okay with it, but you are technically grounded (have to wait something like 6 months before flying to make sure that there were no complications).

He basically advised me that as long as my vision was correctable, there really wasn't much point in having it done these days unless you are trying to fly for the military.

I had my Lasik 10 years ago. I was given a letter by my surgeon after about 4-6 WEEKS after my procedure, which truthfully stated my vision was stable without limiting side effects. I resumed flying under my 3rd class then. I reported it immediately with a copy of the letter to OKC then, and I then mentioned it on my medical renewal.

The AME at the time was unfamiliar, and held onto it overnight make a phone call, and then gave me my 2nd class medical the next day (I had sought the upgrade).

Talk to Doc Bruce to see what the current restrictions are, but as a patient and a pilot, I disagree with the assertion that there's not much point in having refractive surgery nowadays as long as you are a good surgical candidate. Its the best money I've ever spent.
 
The FAA answers your question on this page

excerpt:

The treating health care professional documents his or her determinations in the pilot's health care treatment record;
A copy of that record is immediately forwarded to the Aerospace Medical Certification Division in Oklahoma City; and
 
You'll have to have the Eye Doc complete the FAA Form 8500-7, Report of Eye Evaluation to certify that you are 20/20 distant, 20/40 or better near (Class II) and at the intermediate level if you need it.

He will also need to state in ceratain language that you have no issues with glare, halo, night lighting etc.

It gets filed with your next Aeromedical evaluation. I had to do the same for bi-focal contacts.
 
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