LAfrequentflyer

I had PRK done a few years ago and have had no problems at all. I would have the surgery only if your lifestyle is active (sports / military /etc...). Operationals needs and my lifestyle made me a good candidate...

-LAFF

FlyJSH

Wow. I cannot believe what I am hearing: no first class, no flying life?

I have a first class, but I have never had a job that required one. There are a zillion jobs that only require a second class. Right now I am flying an air ambulance. I don't make six fugures (and then b*tch on these forums about how pilots are so abused), but I am home every night, and have a ton of free time.

Yeah, if you want to fly a Boeing or "bus, you need a first, but there is more to aviation than heavy iron.

good luck

UNDGUY

Quote from UNDGUY in original post

I now have a degree in commercial aviation. I am an instructor with 400 total time, and I will not be able to pass the vision portion for a class one or class two medical. Do I have any aviation options other than to keep flight instructing for the rest of my life? If I do have to flight instructor forever, where is the best pay.QOL etc...

GearUp

UNDGUY, Have you been told that you cannot have more laser surgery done to repair the scarring and irregularities? I have had lasik, so your dilemma strikes a chord with me. A lot of these complications can be fixed by a second procedure.
http://www.allaboutvision.com/vision...lication_1.htm

These people did my lasik.
Whitten - Perraut Laser Eye
630 Peter Jefferson Pkwy., Ste. 180
Charlottesville, Virginia (VA) 22911
1-800-626-5273
Check out who has trusted their eyes to them, because they are the best.
www.whittenlasereye.com/Results/look.htm
They will let you finance and give a lifetime guarantee.

Here are some other lists of surgeons who maybe can repair your problems.
www.surgicaleyes.org/Clinics.htm
www.surgicaleyes.org/ODs.htm

Surely it's worth some phone calls to find out if it can be repaired?

Good luck!

fatlazypilot

Sorry to hear this, I'd sue the lasik surgery people.

mike734

Additional surgery may be the only answer. There have been many advances in Lasik and a good eye surgeon may be able to help. If not, a full time flight instructor may lead to FBO chief pilot. That could pay enough some day. Good luck.

Domy

How long before your vision went worse?

I`d suggest you have the surgery again, wont take more than 20 minutes and its not way better, much more better than the way it was back in 99.

good luck.

FlaZoomie

Find another doctor to do your medicals.

kobifuzz

I can understand how troubling your situation is. Although I have not used these people, they have a very good reputation for fixing problems from previous surgeries. They use some type of super-mapping technology to re-map your eye and (hopefully) repair your problems. I would say do not give up on flying until you have exhausted all avenues. Good luck to you.

http://www.emoryhealthcare.org/depar.../services.html

UNDGUY

I have been dealing with an eye specialist who is telling me that she thinks she can get my vision to 20-20 in each eye seperately with contacts. She says the reason I can't see 20-20 is dry eyes due to the lasik surgery. Appartently when lasik changes the shape of the eye it changes the routes that the tear ducts follow and in rare cases (mine) causes severe dry eyes. The contact will trap moisture between my eye and the contact thus allowing my eyes to stay moist longer. That is her theory. We shall see. As far as why my eyes have become worse as time has past since the surgery, I spoke to three different doctors while trying to find a remedy to my medical issue. All three of them said that the lasik doctor I went to shouldn't have performed the surgery at such a young age.(19) Most doctors agree that the eye can continue to change shape until about 21 years of age. So, if the surgery is done too early, your eye changes shape after the surgical corrections have been made. One doctor I spoke to said she tells her patients to wait until they are done with college to be on the safe side. Just thought I would give an update to everyone that may be considering lasik. Every doctor I talked to said that the dry eyes are very rare and 99.9% of lasik surgeries happen without incident or side effects. It sucks to be the .1%, but that is a chance you take with any surgery.