lasik surgery
10-26-2023 | 04:13 AM
#1
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New Hire
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lasik surgery
"I had LASIK surgery in 2002 and began flying in 2004. For some reason, I did not disclose my eye surgery when I obtained my medical certificate until now. What would happen if I confess now that I have a history of eye surgery? Do you have any insights on that?"
10-26-2023 | 06:35 AM
#2
Prime Minister/Moderator
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From: Engines Turn or People Swim
Call an aviation attorney and get legal advice. You should probably disclose it, just in case they ever find out somehow.
Most likely it will not be a big deal, as long as your vision has always been fine without any complications.
LASIK is legal to fly with, so as long as you were always fit to fly the FAA should not get sideways if you tell them before they find out.
But pay a lawyer, that form you've been signing all these years explicitly states "5 years or $250K fine" so this is not something you want to screw around with.
Some folks will tell you to let sleeping dogs lie, and that's far enough back in time that the records might not have been digitized and subject to some future .gov data dragnet. Not sure if an exam will detect scars from the surgery.
Most likely it will not be a big deal, as long as your vision has always been fine without any complications.
LASIK is legal to fly with, so as long as you were always fit to fly the FAA should not get sideways if you tell them before they find out.
But pay a lawyer, that form you've been signing all these years explicitly states "5 years or $250K fine" so this is not something you want to screw around with.
Some folks will tell you to let sleeping dogs lie, and that's far enough back in time that the records might not have been digitized and subject to some future .gov data dragnet. Not sure if an exam will detect scars from the surgery.
10-30-2023 | 02:14 PM
#4
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This does not necessitate a lawyer. You can either contact AMAS, leftseat.com, or AOPA Medical for advice. But a lawyer isn’t needed unless you just want to call their office for advice. Most likely you will just update your med express form on your next medical exam. But call one of the above services for better clarification. The exorbitant fines are reserved for blatant disregards for safety issues and repeat offenders. You will be fine.
Best luck
Best luck
10-30-2023 | 02:24 PM
#5
Line Holder
Joined: Mar 2021
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original poster posted and never came back.
My advice is put it on the next application under history and let sleeping dogs lie.
the enforcement wheels start to turn when fraud, intentional false statements, etc is involved.
My advice is put it on the next application under history and let sleeping dogs lie.
the enforcement wheels start to turn when fraud, intentional false statements, etc is involved.
10-30-2023 | 09:03 PM
#6
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Engines Turn or People Swim
I'd probably at least take CFI2766's advice... AMAS is relatively cheap and can tell you whether you really need a lawyer.
If you just report it, my guess is that would be fine since it's not something that's blatantly grounding. But I'd get some professional advice, FAA/DOJ have been doing criminal enforcement lately.
11-02-2023 | 02:51 PM
#7
Perennial Reserve
Joined: Jan 2018
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The answer is:
Yes you screwed up and a few apologetic mea culpas and a humble promise to ‘go now and sin no more,’ will likely be required but this isn’t an item of high interest for the FAA.
https://www.faa.gov/faq/pilot-required-report-faa-he-or-she-has-undergone-lasik-or-other-laser-eye-surgery-correct
Until they stop having pilots use hallucinogenic mushrooms and pulling firearms on one another in the cockpit I think it’s safe to say they have bigger fish to fry…
Yes you screwed up and a few apologetic mea culpas and a humble promise to ‘go now and sin no more,’ will likely be required but this isn’t an item of high interest for the FAA.
https://www.faa.gov/faq/pilot-required-report-faa-he-or-she-has-undergone-lasik-or-other-laser-eye-surgery-correct
Until they stop having pilots use hallucinogenic mushrooms and pulling firearms on one another in the cockpit I think it’s safe to say they have bigger fish to fry…
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