LASIK & FAA/Medical
 

Hello all,
I’m getting a LASIK consultation next week. I found a clinic by my home that is ran by two military ophthalmologists who have performed LASIK for hundreds of military pilots. I understand I need to submit FAA Form 8500-7 after the procedure and aware of the risks.

On the FAA website, they mention I can immediately resume piloting provided I meet FAA vision standards, have no adverse conditions or complications, and that the post operative condition is stabilized.

Am I right in assuming I don’t need a new first class medical after the surgery? I was thinking I could get a new medical before the LASIK with my current corrective lenses (as mine is due a month after the surgery if I get it), then get LASIK, submit form 8500-7 to the FAA, chill at home for 10 days, go back to flying provided my vision is good according to the above FAA conditions.

Any advice is appreciated or if anyone can dumb it down for me, I’d appreciate it.

Sounds about right, they don't need to inspect all of you, just confirm that your vision is good (which is why you submit form).

But I'd call your AME and ask him to be safe.

If anyone cares for an update....

I got a new medical done a week before LASIK. I asked my AME about it and he said just bring the FAA evaluation of eye form at my next medical. Just google that and it'll come right up.

I had LASIK done in March. I was seeing 20/15 within 24 hours of the procedure. The procedure itself took maybe six minutes from walking into the room and walking out. I had zero pain, all I had to do was stare at a dot at each machine. The first machine cuts open your cornea to peel it back. This took 18 seconds per eye. I was then taken to another machine which then reshaped the cornea and this took 10 seconds per eye. I was given a tylenol PM, sent home and I slept probably 16 hours total. I've had no complications and the Dr. said my eyes are healing just fine. His staff even filled out my FAA form and faxed it in for me. I just have to use eye drops in the mornings to wake my eyes up and I'm seeing clearly! 10/10 would recommend.

I was told by a armature Doctor that the flap they make never really heals back down. It’s kinda like static cling stickers on a window. Obviously lots of people have had it. But it made me think there is a risk the flap could peel up. Anyone have firsthand experience with this?

How long do you have to keep using the eye drops in the morning? Forever?

You can forgo the flap option with prk, but painful and longer healing (aprox 30 days) as the outer surface is disolved away and must grow back. If you get a lasik touchup, this is sometimes the only option as the flap procedure was already done.
Eye drops are around a few weeks. Some people end up with using otc eye drops for comfort later on.
Only eye trama would cause the flap to lift..... Such as extreme chopsticks throwing competitions.....a while ago, military medical thinking said high g forces could be a problem on the "flap"

Considering this for myself in the near future, thanks for the write up. Thread Hi jack question: anyone have experience with epilasik, SMILE, or the lens implant options?

Thanks for the reply. I’ve cut way back, only doing chopstick trowing on the last Wednesday of the month now!

I limit myself to recreational chopstick throwing completions, not extreme. So I should be okay.