LASIK Surgery for Cave Divers?

[divindoc]

Had LASIK in 2004. Had a monovision correction (dominant eye for distance, nondominant eye for near-vision). Recommended by my surgeon as I was needing "readers" to read. No problems since, can read fine print no problem. Only have to wear readers to read extremely fine print in dim light, and wear corrective lenses to drive long distances at night only - like coming home from a cave trip. No sweat reading gages underwater. A couple caveats - be sure your vision is stable and not changing. You look like a "spring chicken" so you probably don't need the gomer correction I did. Lasik saves me an incredible amount of time daily in eliminating the hassle of contacts.

Nothing lost however if you decide to wait, as the technology for this procedure seems to improve on a yearly basis. I forgot to add - it's the best thing I ever did concerning my vision!

[Wendy Thurman]

I had it done in 2007 by a German doctor in Dubai; corrected near-sightedness and astigmatism. Best money I have ever spent and I've not had any problems with it, diving or otherwise.

Forrest- I don't see any bars to LASIK from the FAA other than an assessment. My medical has lapsed so couldn't say for sure what issues would arise with regard to flight status.

[Jim Wyatt]

Lasik about 15 years ago ... all good.

[FW]

I had it done in 2007 by a German doctor in Dubai; corrected near-sightedness and astigmatism. Best money I have ever spent and I've not had any problems with it, diving or otherwise.

Forrest- I don't see any bars to LASIK from the FAA other than an assessment. My medical has lapsed so couldn't say for sure what issues would arise with regard to flight status.

The FAA posted a warning a few years ago about possible night vision problems. Something about small peripheral light flashes.

[cavemark]

The FAA posted a warning a few years ago about possible night vision problems. Something about small peripheral light flashes.

I had Halos around colored lights and Starbursts around white lights for a few years after mine in 2000. They went away. Astronomy isn't affected, nor microscopy.

[divindoc]

The FAA posted a warning a few years ago about possible night vision problems. Something about small peripheral light flashes.

You can pass a flight physical after LASIK. One of my good friends had it and has passed his physical without any problems - damn well better have as I fly with him in his V-tail Bonanza (aka "The Doctor Killer"(!).

[JE]

The FAA posted a warning a few years ago about possible night vision problems. Something about small peripheral light flashes.

http://www.allaboutvision.com/condit...potsfloats.htm
Forest I hope this helps you understand more about light flashes.. I think Lasik it the way to go....I am looking into myself.

[a64pilot]

FAA is OK with LASIK, I think, but if your a military aviator, it's a permanently grounding condition. Or at least it was in 02 when I retired.

[BigBoB]

Military is still doing PRK for most aviators.

[Wizard]

Everyone I know that had a telescope and then did the procedure quit astronomy Mark. They lost their ability to pick out faint nebulas and galaxies. One guy had a CPC1100 and after LASIK couldn't make out anything dimmer than Mag 10. My eyes are horrible and drive me nuts but I'm so used to poor vision I can do two things as good or better than anyone else, find faint objects such as the time I got 4 galaxies in Stephan's quintet with an 11 inch scope, and see in the dark. I can walk around just fine in an area with Mag 6.5 skies. My wife had LASIK and she can hardly see to walk with a half moon.
Tried the mono vision thing with contacts for a few days, bad move. Did not have ANY depth perception at night and had my first and only migrane that lasted 4 days. The Doc said I need to give it some more time. I told him to give me some Loratabs and I'd give it another go. LOL
I wound up with a straight power contact in my right eye and a multi focal in the left. The multi focals would not stay settled down and moved constantly in the right eye. I can at least read a little without readers now. Everyone is diferent I suppose.