Lasik / flying?

Anybody had lasik surgery?

My vision is stable, correctable to 20/20, but things like pollen or the
neighbor mowing his yard can bother my contact lenses. Glasses suck and
contacts aren't good for your eyes over time, so my wife is encouraging
lasik. The #1 facility in the region is half a block away from my workplace
and they have a deal with our company which is why I know so many people
who've had it, but I'm still undecided.

Everybody I've known personally who has had it done raves about it, no bad
experiences at all...but none of them fly.

Thoughts?
-c

I had lasik 3 1/2 years ago.
I passed my physical for student pilot license last June and had no
problems with any item, including night vision.
I do, however, have some "starburst" effect in one eye, but I was able
to pass the vision test.
My vision used to be -7.0 and -6.75, which is a pretty good correction
amount.
I recently had a vision exam, and am 20/40 in one eye, 20/30 in the
other.
I have a prescription in case I want them for distance seeing,
and I would use if advanantageous during flying.
However, I am not required to do so.

My personal opinion is that it is remarkable - even though my vision has
slipped (explained by aging process and not unusual) - and I would
not hesitate to do it again myself.

There can be problems, and you should be comfortable.
Interestingly enough, I've been asked directly by at least 50 people
whom I know, and about 10 of them have had the surgery, and all are
very happy with the results.

Good luck!

Gary


"gatt" wrote in
:


Anybody had lasik surgery?

My vision is stable, correctable to 20/20, but things like pollen or
the neighbor mowing his yard can bother my contact lenses. Glasses
suck and contacts aren't good for your eyes over time, so my wife is
encouraging lasik. The #1 facility in the region is half a block away
from my workplace and they have a deal with our company which is why I
know so many people who've had it, but I'm still undecided.

Everybody I've known personally who has had it done raves about it, no
bad experiences at all...but none of them fly.

Thoughts?
-c

Or???
http://www.usaeyes.org/lasik/faq/las...-icl-p-iol.htm

I've looked into some of these options, but not seriously enough to spend a
lot of time on it. My hesitation mostly concerns the healing time and
checkup appointments. It's my understanding that the FAA rules say that
your vision must be stabilized after the procedures, which, makes me nervous
about the time period that I may not be able or authorized to fly.

Let us know what you learn.

Jim

"gatt" wrote in message
...

Anybody had lasik surgery?

My vision is stable, correctable to 20/20, but things like pollen or the
neighbor mowing his yard can bother my contact lenses. Glasses suck and
contacts aren't good for your eyes over time, so my wife is encouraging
lasik. The #1 facility in the region is half a block away from my
workplace
and they have a deal with our company which is why I know so many people
who've had it, but I'm still undecided.

Everybody I've known personally who has had it done raves about it, no bad
experiences at all...but none of them fly.

Thoughts?
-c

gatt wrote:
Anybody had lasik surgery?

My vision is stable, correctable to 20/20, but things like pollen or the
neighbor mowing his yard can bother my contact lenses. Glasses suck and
contacts aren't good for your eyes over time, so my wife is encouraging
lasik. The #1 facility in the region is half a block away from my workplace
and they have a deal with our company which is why I know so many people
who've had it, but I'm still undecided.

Everybody I've known personally who has had it done raves about it, no bad
experiences at all...but none of them fly.

Thoughts?
-c

I had PRK (the pre-cursor to LASIK) 10 years ago, and I still have
20/15 vision and almost no astygmatism. It was well worth the money.
I have been flying since 1991.

Dean

I had Lasik and it is wonderful. There was no "healing time". BAM two hours
later, perfect vision from two feet to infinity.

Karl


"Jim Burns" wrote in message
...
Or???
http://www.usaeyes.org/lasik/faq/las...-icl-p-iol.htm

I've looked into some of these options, but not seriously enough to spend
a
lot of time on it. My hesitation mostly concerns the healing time and
checkup appointments. It's my understanding that the FAA rules say that
your vision must be stabilized after the procedures, which, makes me
nervous
about the time period that I may not be able or authorized to fly.

Let us know what you learn.

Jim

"gatt" wrote in message
...

Anybody had lasik surgery?

My vision is stable, correctable to 20/20, but things like pollen or the
neighbor mowing his yard can bother my contact lenses. Glasses suck and
contacts aren't good for your eyes over time, so my wife is encouraging
lasik. The #1 facility in the region is half a block away from my
workplace
and they have a deal with our company which is why I know so many people
who've had it, but I'm still undecided.

Everybody I've known personally who has had it done raves about it, no
bad
experiences at all...but none of them fly.

Thoughts?
-c

I had it about 5 years ago. Initially I was disappointed because my vision
with glasses was very sharp. After the lasik, it was good enough to pass
driving and aviation tests, but not as sharp. This is particularly
noticeable at night, where my vision is rather blurry. On the other hand,
at the beach (where the pupils are "stopped down" in photographic terms) my
vision is nearly ideal (and where better to have great vision).

I got some prescription shooting glasses with interchangeable lenses, and a
nose bridge which allows the lenses to be raised a little. The optometrist
said that she would make them "a little in the green," which was trade talk
for better than 20/20. I usually use these for flying, although legally I
don't have to.

All in all, I would do it again, but it is not perfect (at least in my
case). Also, everyone told me it was essentially painless. The first night
hurt like hell. They told me sometimes they give medication to patients,
but they were sure I wouldn't need it. I wish I had their home numbers that
night. I just got a bottle of liquor and started doing shots.


"gatt" wrote in message
...

Anybody had lasik surgery?

My vision is stable, correctable to 20/20, but things like pollen or the
neighbor mowing his yard can bother my contact lenses. Glasses suck and
contacts aren't good for your eyes over time, so my wife is encouraging
lasik. The #1 facility in the region is half a block away from my
workplace and they have a deal with our company which is why I know so
many people who've had it, but I'm still undecided.

Everybody I've known personally who has had it done raves about it, no bad
experiences at all...but none of them fly.

Thoughts?
-c

In article ,
"gatt" wrote:

Anybody had lasik surgery?
Everybody I've known personally who has had it done raves about it, no bad
experiences at all...but none of them fly.
Thoughts?

One thing to consider is your age.
If you are in your 20's, early 30's, 50's or 60's, it may be worthwhile.
If you are in your late 30's or 40's, you eyes may soon or are in the
process of changing. In which case the benefits may be short lived.
Do you wanat to pay for the procedure twice in a short time span?
Also, there are occassions where the procedure may need to be repeated
to get the correction right.

LWG wrote:

I had it about 5 years ago. Initially I was disappointed because my vision
with glasses was very sharp. After the lasik, it was good enough to pass
driving and aviation tests, but not as sharp. This is particularly
noticeable at night, where my vision is rather blurry. On the other hand,
at the beach (where the pupils are "stopped down" in photographic terms) my
vision is nearly ideal (and where better to have great vision).

I got some prescription shooting glasses with interchangeable lenses, and a
nose bridge which allows the lenses to be raised a little. The optometrist
said that she would make them "a little in the green," which was trade talk
for better than 20/20. I usually use these for flying, although legally I
don't have to.

All in all, I would do it again, but it is not perfect (at least in my
case). Also, everyone told me it was essentially painless. The first night
hurt like hell. They told me sometimes they give medication to patients,
but they were sure I wouldn't need it. I wish I had their home numbers that
night. I just got a bottle of liquor and started doing shots.

And you wonder why your night vision is blurry. :-)


Matt

"gatt" wrote in message
...

Anybody had lasik surgery?

My vision is stable, correctable to 20/20, but things like pollen or the
neighbor mowing his yard can bother my contact lenses. Glasses suck and
contacts aren't good for your eyes over time, so my wife is encouraging
lasik. The #1 facility in the region is half a block away from my
workplace and they have a deal with our company which is why I know so
many people who've had it, but I'm still undecided.

Everybody I've known personally who has had it done raves about it, no bad
experiences at all...but none of them fly.

Thoughts?

I had it done in 2003 to cure a "lazy" right eye (It used to be 20/150, now
20/20. The left has been 20/30 since my teens).

For the treatment, I was in at about 9:00AM and out by 11:00. Slight pain
for about two hours, then all was well.

You might find this article informative.

http://www.marginalrevolution.com/ma..._is_belie.html


--
Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO (MTJ)

wrote:
?
-c

I had PRK (the pre-cursor to LASIK) 10 years ago, and I still have
20/15 vision and almost no astygmatism. It was well worth the money.
I have been flying since 1991.

I also had PRK. The recovery time is longer, but the complication rate
is virtually zero. The complication rate on LASIK is low, but PRK is
lower.

Very happy I had it.