PCLCREW

Hey guys/girls I've been getting FAA first class medicals for about 9 years now, and I have amblyopia in my left eye. For 9 years I stress about every medical everytime I walk in.
My right eye is 20/10 and my left is 20/20-40 corrected but I have been able to pass. My amblyopia is weird some days its 20/20 corrected and some its 20/40... At some point here as the years go on I suspect I wont be 20/20 corrected anymore.
So what are my options? I would like the stress of the medical to go down a bit. Can I get a wavier by the fact that I have been flying in the airlines for almost a decade and have never had any problems seeing anything at any point,or a SODA? What is involved in getting a wavier or a SODA?
Also for a medical flight test for a guy who hasn't touched a single engine aircraft in 12 years might be a bit difficult, not seeing, but flying the plane
Thanks all for any insight!

rickair7777

If you fail in one eye by a small degree (say 20/40) I'm sure they would give you a waiver for that. I believe there are one-eyed airline pilots out there.

Cruz5350

I know there is a guy flying around in the airlines with one eye I'm sure you won't have an issue.

HSLD

If you're an ALPA member, call aeromedical and talk to a doc. They will walk you though the process and email you the waiver form.

PCLCREW

I am, and I will... Thanks for all the info. Is it a tough process? What gets me is with both eyes I see 20/20 uncorrected... Cover my left eye 20/10.. cover my right eye and well thats when the problems begin..
Thanks again everyone.

rotorhead1026

Why guess? Consult an ophthalmologist who specializes in amblyopia; you must know one. Same for the FAA medical; ask your AME or, as noted earlier, ALPA or AOPA.

busboy12

I also have an ambliyopic left eye and my vision in that eye is far worse than yours. I got a waiver when i was going through private pilot training and have not had any issues since. Even holding the waiver I have worked for several airlines and NetJets and nobody had issue with it. The waiver is not a big deal unless you want to work for a foreign carrier. I would think based on experience they would give you the SODA without requiring a flight test but I might be wrong.

727gm

NEW research results vis-a-vis amblyopia:

Lazy Eye? Turn Off the Lights - ScienceNOW

MrEd

In many cases proper hydration is the cause of what you're describing, I'd try drinking more water and/or saline drops to maintain optimal eye lubrication. Amazingly most people live their entire lives dehydrated and don't even know it.





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