And now for the rest of the story.
I was diagnosed with
keratoconus - the pilot medical killer - when I was 18 years old (in 1991, but who is counting..) At the time I could see 20/20 corrected in both eyes, but I was informed by the optometrist that I would eventually probably need a cornea transplant. A few years later I was prescribed gas permeable (hardish) contacts and told I should be scheduled for a cornea transplant. Instead of doing that, I ditched the contacts and ran like a sissy boy.
Fast forward to 2006. I was 33 years old and the vision in my left eye had deteriorated substantially. I decided it was time to see a surgeon again, and used this hook of pilot training to convince myself that, if against all odds they could fix me, I would start training as soon as I felt I was stable (a process that can take years). My eye looked as bad as if not worse than the wikipedia photo, and the cone shape could clearly be seen in profile. The surgeon and specialists would periodically bring colleagues in to see how bad my eye was... Gah. Despite all of this, I got the transplant in 2006. It was horrible. I thought I was done for. My eye STILL does not feel quite right, but for a couple years after surgery, I was in constant discomfort.
In 2011, as I turned 38, I walked into the AME's office (completely cold like an idiot) and said "I'd like a 3rd class medical please". Told him all about the transplant. He looked me over, gave me the eye test, and issued in the office. I was shocked, and started my flight training the following week.
Fast forward to this week. During the post operative evaluation of my eye, the surgeon declared me stable and filled out my 8500-7. We both agreed I was fit to fly as soon as I got new glasses. But that's not the best part.
Left eye -
20/20 corrected. Right eye,
20/15 corrected (that one had no procedure performed). Right eye had signs of keratoconus, but he said given my age and the likelihood of it progressing much, I probably would get away with no serious procedures at all on that eye ever.
I can now see better than I could at age 25. In January, I apply for my 2nd class medical, and I hope to finish my CP-ASEL.
This has been one hell of a journey.