LASIK surgery
 

Any United pilot recently undergone LASIK and know the requirements to come back to work? Scheduled to get it done soon, but was just curious if anyone knew what the timeline is to come back. Seeing 6 weeks to 12 weeks online but no clear answer. I’m a TK guy, so hoping that doesn’t affect me, but any info would be helpful.

I wasn’t at UAL when I had it done, so I can’t speak of any UAL specific requirements. However, as far as the FAA is concerned, you can return to work as soon as your vision stabilizes without any complications from the procedure.

The doc performing your procedure will need to fill out FAA form 8500-7:

https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/...p_10.31.24.pdf

Hang on to it until your next medical and take it with you. Your AME will remove your corrective lenses restriction at that time. I flew with the restriction on my medical for a few months after the procedure, but I did stay in touch with my AME and sent him a copy of the 8500 form after getting it completed.

If it’s actually LASIK and not PRK (two different things with the same end result, but people use “LASIK” as a generic label) you shouldn’t be out more than a few weeks. There’s a surprising amount of “honor system” involved for something pertaining to your vision.

And stay away from the buy one eye get the other free deals.

^^THIS^^

I went to a private practice eye surgeon for mine. It cost me more, but I had piece of mind. If the place you want to go offers Groupons… don’t go there.

Do you mind sharing roughly what you paid? I've got Kaiser through United and VA for just myself, i've just started looking into the procedures.

Still 20/20 but i've noticed I have to work harder to focus my left eye, and it's not getting any better i'm sure.

I got it done last spring. I took a 3 hour nap and felt pretty good after. I was a little sensitive to bright lights for the next day or two but was able to go about my day with some sunglasses outside. I went back to the doctor 2 days after surgery to have them fill out the FAA form to allow me to return to work, but they underestimated how long the FAA's required tests would take and didn't have the time to finish it, so they had me come back a week later. If it wasn't for that hiccup, I would have been back flying 3 days after surgery.

I looked for the most well-reviewed doctor in my area and didn't care about the price. Ended up being just under $5,000. Comes with lifetime adjustment surgeries if my vision degrades in the future.

I got it done about 18 months ago. I had scheduled a visit with my eye doc for the FAA paperwork 3 days later and then my FAA physical a few days after that. Pretty simple. I wanted to get my new medical right away just in case I got a ramp check. With corrective lenses on your med cert you'd technically need to show the inspector your two pairs of glasses. Make sure you find someone with the wavelength technology (eliminates possibility of halos at night). My doc was a flight surgeon in the Navy and Air Force, is a pilot and also a senior AME. Gave me his personal number if there was any issue with my AME...which there was not.

thank you everyone. Did y’all take Valium?

Is that definetly a thing? I thought halos and night vision complications are still fairly common in all current procedures that are available.
The things that have me on the fence are the horror stories I keep reading from some patients and the fact that so many of these eye doctors and surgeons still seem to prefer their glasses over surgery for themselves.

That said, in fairness there are many extremely positive stories from people as well regarding their experiences.

Yeah my understanding is the machines in the past would not always re-shape all the way out to the outer edge of the cornea which is what causes the halo issues. Wavelength laser gets it all. I'd think that any good reputable eye center would have it (though they still offered the non-wavelength at about half the price....this is not the way to save money). I can see every light on the field at night as sharp as can be. The rest of the day after the surgery.....not gonna lie the eyes hurt. Next day a little sore there was some light sensitivity for a while. For a couple months after I used eye drops for dryness....can kinda feel like you have a hair in your eye or something. After a while it's like it never happened. I'm 20/15 both eyes. It's awesome. No regerts.