Anybody have any first hand experience with cataract surgery and the regulations? Is/are there any restrictions post surgery?

Glidergeek wrote:Anybody have any first hand experience with cataract surgery and the regulations? Is/are there any restrictions post surgery?

I don't know any pilots who have had it. My mother and mother n law have had both eyes done. They swear by it. Fast recovery.

G'Day

I have had cataract surgery on one eye and may have to do the other soon.

Had no problem with last flight medical other than the usual must wear glasses that has always been there been on my certificate.

Some hard learned advise though: DO NOT LET THEM TALK YOU INTO A MULTI-FOCAL LENS.

If you wear glasses just get as plain a lens as possible and continue to have any vision correction done externally with glasses. You can change the prescription of external lenses but NOT the inserts. AND most peoples vision continues to change over time.

The multi-focal lenses cause major problems with even driving at night, no way I would fly at night except as a survival function.
One naval pilot trainee I heard of had the tri-vocal lenses put in so as to not have to wear glasses.
Worked OK until night flying.

It is hard to describe in words but I will try. It is worst when driving at night.

EVERY head light, tail light, house light, street light, stop light, turn signal, etc., etc., etc.
The original light will have spokes of light extending our from the original light source with a small replication of the light on the end of each of the spokes. That goes for EVERY light and reflection that you see at night. It looks as though you are seeing the world through a perforated screen with several colors of lights. Was a bit scary for a while. I would drive in the middle of streets in town and pull over for oncoming traffic.

Not so bad in the day time, but I can still see the replication at traffic signals.

My doctor and I have been discussing the removal of my multi-focal lens and replace it with a single.
I still have to regular glasses of the cataract eye because my vision continues to change as I age so I still end up with glasses. So now I have a total of SIX lenses for my right eye.

That's MY story

Trim

My experience has been much different than Trimtab. The surgery is easy, the recovery is swift (hours), and the results were amazing. Insurance doesn't pay for anything other than monofocal but I strongly advocate spending the money.

I had cataract surgery on one eye and got what is called an accomodative intraocular lens (Crystalens). The difference in perceived colors between the eyes and the success led me to do the other eye. Night vision had much more glare and rings before the surgery.

Toirix and multifocal lenses are much more likely to have the problems that Trimtab mentions. There have been at least 2 new versions of Crystalens since I had mine implanted.

One eye is a little bit better near, the other a little bit better far: they test 20-25. I can't pass the AME near vision test and have to carry near vision glasses but really do fine without them in daily life. I do have far vision glasses that correct my vision to 20-15 but I've been used to glasses all my life and like that little extra edge while flying.

Talk to AOPA medical but my memory is that the FAA believes there could be rapid significant changes for 6 weeks after surgery and they want a 6 month status report after the surgery. I do have a friend where there was a sudden significant shift.

From a May 2000 AOPA Flight Training article

The FAA allows certification at all classes for pilots who have had refractive correction. The agency wants to see evidence of stabilization of visual acuity with minimal side effects, such as eye discomfort and variability of visual acuity. At the time your eye doctor signs you off after having the procedure, the FAA requests a status report confirming that your vision is stable. Then you can fly on your current medical certificate under the provisions of FAR 61.53. When your next FAA medical examination is due, the FAA will need the formal report of eye evaluation completed on FAA Form 8500-7.

and

When it is time for surgery, most patients are fully recovered within a few weeks. Again, the FAA wants a report of eye evaluation form at the time of the next scheduled FAA physical examination.

Good luck

I've had cataract surgery in both eyes and it's not a problem for your FAA physicals. You will need to submit an eye evaluation form to the FAA medical office, which I did at my next physical. I self grounded for a while, but the follow ups with the eye surgeon showed better vision and good eye health. I had the first one about 25 years ago, and the next eye about 6 years ago and the technology has changed rapidly. I waited way too long for the first one because I was going to an Optometrist that didn't seem to know what a cataract was. If you are having a hard time seeing, this is a life changing surgery.

I too have had surgery on both eyes, and there has been no problems. I just got the plain ones which give you farsightedness, and you need glasses for closeup. However I've had glasses all my life so I got new ones with the graduated multifocal lenses so I can see closeup without doing anything. I have some astigmatism in one eye so the glasses help that too and do make a noticeable improvement. I had them done in April and it was suggested that I wait 6 months before getting the aviation medical but I did it in August with no problems. A friend of mine just had it done with the fancy new lenses and he has trouble at night like Trimtab has mentioned, so I would lean toward the plain also. But he is also 78 years old, which is a factor. Check out the surgeon, if he's well recccomended, your chances are great!

My experiences mirror RJB's.

Had adaptive Crystal Lenses implanted and the Dr set them up so one is near-perfect close and one is near-perfect at distance (sort of what is commonly called "mono-vision"). I can pass a 3rd class medical and driving eye exam without eyglasses, no problem and can read and see 99% of what I need to see while wrenching, flying, shooting, etc without glasses. Glasses correct my distance vision to 20/15 in both eyes and give me perfect near vision as well via bifocals.

I have begun getting my annual eye exam immediately and having the Dr fill out the FAA eye report. The FAA Dr submits that for with my eye exam. Having a highly qualified MD exam my eyes, determine their fitness, and make corrections prior to the FAA exam beats failing it any day.

My recovery was weeks versus the hours/days many people quote. Night vision without glasses is markedly poorer than during the day. I also notice my eyes are drier and more easily fatigued but that could be just age effects and the fact that I use my eyes intensely in most things I do.

Finding a highly qualified Dr would be my first task. This is a very operator-sensitive procedure, both in terms of the actual surgery but in determining which lenses are best for you. My Dr. measured my eyes 4 times over the course of a couple of weeks and different times of day, for example. It was obvious that the was really interestedc in getting me the best lenses. An unlimited # of measurements and an unlimited # of post-op visits was included in the price. There are a phenomenal number of incompetent to mediocre Doc's out there and it is hard to identify the best ones.

Aside from the FAA legality issues (of which there seem to be little,) it's a life changing experience. My dad had both eyes done earlier this year and it changed his life. I think he was practically in tears he was so happy to be able to see so clearly. He said he didn't think his vision had been this good since he was a kid.

Thank you all for your input after researching I also Understand that I've got to Submit a form 8500-7. As far as timeframe my surgery on my left eye is scheduled December 10, My next physical is due after January 31. That will be approximately 6 to 7 weeks In between surgery and my next physical. I'm wondering if that will be enough time for healing To pass the physical?

I have had better than 2020 vision up until I was 40 years old. My left eye has always been my weak one, In my 20s and 30s it was always 17/20 My right eye has always been a little bit better it was 15/20 Right now my vision is 2030 but I've got a cataract in the left eye That clouds my vision And is the reason that I will have the surgery. I've been assured by my ophthalmologist I still have Vision that people would kill for.

Glidergeek wrote:Thank you all for your input after researching I also Understand that I've got to Submit a form 8500-7. As far as timeframe my surgery on my left eye is scheduled December 10, My next physical is due after January 31. That will be approximately 6 to 7 weeks In between surgery and my next physical. I'm wondering if that will be enough time for healing To pass the physical?

I have had better than 2020 vision up until I was 40 years old. My left eye has always been my weak one, In my 20s and 30s it was always 17/20 My right eye has always been a little bit better it was 15/20 Right now my vision is 2030 but I've got a cataract in the left eye That clouds my vision And is the reason that I will have the surgery. I've been assured by my ophthalmologist I still have Vision that people would kill for.

So that explains the cake girl? She's not going to look all that attractive after you get those eyes fixed

OK today was the day got it done at 3:00 pm, wow 10:45 and an amazing recovery already. vision is at least as good if not better already than before. I couldn't have asked for a better preop and OR staff.

Congrats Russ. Glad the surgery worked out well! How long until you can get back in the air? Do you have to wait until your next medical to process the paperwork?

Flynengr

Eye exam by the surgeon this morning we both were impressed, 20/20 in that eye she says she usually doesn't see that so soon. As far as recovery back to flying will probably be a couple of weeks, in the mean time I'm having a Sportsman STOL kit installed while I'm recovering .