N7225G

Just wondering how the surgery and recovery was, and how your vision is currently? Also curious if many pilots have met other pilots with the surgery done?

Also i was curious how many older (or younger i spose) pilots need reading glasses, and if that makes flying more difficult
Thanks

de727ups

I did lasik and it's not at all uncommon to find other pilots that have done it. I went from 20/200 to 20/20 with no problems. Waited a week to fly but could have flown the next day. I have regressed to 20/40 over two years but that was expected. Normally, they could do a "tweak" operation to fix the regression but I was told, before hand, my cornea's were too small, so that wasn't an option.

Still the best money I've ever spent...

LAfrequentflyer

I had PRK and I would do it again despite the pain (post op) involved. If you do have surgery - follow the instructions to a letter and your post op recovery will go well. It will still hurt - think sand in your eyes feeling for a few days...

20/20 for the past 3+ years post surgery...I don't regret it one bit...

Thank you USAF Travis AFB Medical Center...

-LAFF

pvuproduct

I had PRK too, and LAFF is right, it hurts! It was well worth it, though, because I see 20/20 now (two years later), and previous to that, my prescription was -8.25 in both eyes. I still wake up and can't believe that I can actually see the clock!

N7225G

-8.25 man thats like legally blind ...Thanks for all the replies and sorry for postin in the regional forums, i thought i was in hangar my mistake

Laff and PVU did u both do PRK because your in the military, or because corneas too thin for lasik, or both? (i would assume Laff is military)
I am planning on having it done, but i havent entirely ruled out the military, and as far as i know they only accept PRK (?) which i have heard is more painful and longer recovery, as you all have stated as well. My sister had to get Prk because her corneas were too thin and vision was too bad, although i dont think it was -8.25, more like -7.50

Thanks

LAfrequentflyer

Military. PRK was the only one offered at the time. Also, I was a better candidate for it.

rickair7777

If you are a career pilot type and can pass the medical for the type of flying you do (or want to do), I would be VERY wary of laser surgery just as a lifestyle convenience thing.

I know one airline pilot who had it (LASIK I think) whose cornea ended up so scarred that he couldn't get a medical. The docs told him he needed cornea transplants but the company health plan declined to pay for it (since his vision wasn't so bad that he couldn't work at jiffy-lube or starbucks). The guy ended up as a sim instructor until the company got tired of paying him CA pay (contract sim guys make $30-40K) and fired him.

There is a definite, if small, risk. Personally I would do it in order to qualify for say a military pilot slot, but not just to avoid wearing glasses. Actually I'll probably get it done after I retire from flying.

BDGERJMN

I had PRK done(Navy) last October. My eyes are 20/15 in both eyes. I have 0 night acuity issues and am very happy with the outcome. If I were to do it all over again(it is very painful) I would do PRK in a minute.

PRK has historically shown much less chance of night issues. I have had this argument with plenty of LASIK surgeons who will swear LASIK is better(puts money in their pockets). The military uses the same technology(CUSTOMVIEW) that the civilian sector uses to map your eyes and come up with the treatment protocol, so the old addage and myths about military medicine don't really apply in this case.

The recovery for PRK depends on the patient as with any treatment. In my case I had the procedure done on a Monday morning and had the soft bandage contact lenses removed on the following Friday. I was back to work the next monday but not able to fly for 90 days after(Navy Waiver guide-used to be 30 days). I would say I was fully functional with no issues right around the 30 day mark.

If you get PRK(which I recommend for alot of reasons PM me if you want to discuss further) you must follow the treatment instructions to the tee. All the steroid drops and pain medication was used(with the exception of eye numbing drops) fully. Keeping ahead of the pain is only way to get through those first few days. Just imagine someone throwing some hot sand in your eyes and thats about what it feels like.

I'm very glad I had it done. It was well worth it.

If you're debating military service(aviation) ask the services via the medical waiver guide(s) what they allow. They are very specific on diopter numbers, procedures, etc. I know the NAVY is looking into approving LASIK for aviators but hasn't been approved yet so depending on when you get yours done it may disqualify you.

Bdger