Air Factor Denied

[wongerz]

Anyone have any experience regarding air factor medicals? CFEME denied me since my pre-op refractive error was -6.75 and -5.75. I underwent lasik surgery last year but apparently my pre-op prescription exceeds -8.00 so they won't grant me my air factor. They also apparently don't do appeals either so am I just unlucky to have bad eyes from the past. I have 20/20 vision currently so I don't understand why the medical standard is so high when I have perfect vision with no complications for the past year since surgery. It's just frustrating when that is the only thing stopping me from entering the competition list since my aircrew/reliability status are already completed and I had spent a year and a half waiting to enter my preferred trade. My medical section said there's no way to contact or appeal to the CFEME compared to the RMO so I guess I'm just curious why they are so strict with air factor.

 

[dimsum]

Anyone have any experience regarding air factor medicals? CFEME denied me since my pre-op refractive error was -6.75 and -5.75. I underwent lasik surgery last year but apparently my pre-op prescription exceeds -8.00 so they won't grant me my air factor. They also apparently don't do appeals either so am I just unlucky to have bad eyes from the past. I have 20/20 vision currently so I don't understand why the medical standard is so high when I have perfect vision with no complications for the past year since surgery. It's just frustrating when that is the only thing stopping me from entering the competition list since my aircrew/reliability status are already completed and I had spent a year and a half waiting to enter my preferred trade. My medical section said there's no way to contact or appeal to the CFEME compared to the RMO so I guess I'm just curious why they are so strict with air factor.

I’m not in the medical side but perhaps the stresses of flying does something to your eyes, even with laser surgery.

Having no ill effects on the ground doesn’t mean they might not happen in the air.

 

[ModlrMike]

LASIK is essentially ablation of the corneal tissue. The amount of material vaporized when the refractive error approaches 7.00 diopters is substantial, and the cornea is correspondingly much thinner than it would be with a more mild correction. Flying, and diving require one is exposed to extremes of atmospheric pressure. A ruptured eyeball would not be a good thing.

 

[Blackadder1916]

Anyone have any experience regarding air factor medicals? CFEME denied me since my pre-op refractive error was -6.75 and -5.75. I underwent lasik surgery last year but apparently my pre-op prescription exceeds -8.00 so they won't grant me my air factor. They also apparently don't do appeals either so am I just unlucky to have bad eyes from the past. I have 20/20 vision currently so I don't understand why the medical standard is so high when I have perfect vision with no complications for the past year since surgery. It's just frustrating when that is the only thing stopping me from entering the competition list since my aircrew/reliability status are already completed and I had spent a year and a half waiting to enter my preferred trade. My medical section said there's no way to contact or appeal to the CFEME compared to the RMO so I guess I'm just curious why they are so strict with air factor.

Whether or not "luck" has any bearing on your life is a personal conclusion, but as to whether or not you would have any grounds on which to appeal this, probably not. In most cases of individuals appealing decisions to the RMO their argument is often based on differing opinions of specialists as to the history, diagnosis and/or outcome of an applicant's particular medical condition. In your case, your vision (pre-refractive surgery) was measured; the medical/vision standard required for CAF aircrew is clearly stated. You do not meet that standard.

AMA DIRECTIVE 400-02
LASER REFRACTIVE SURGERY FOR CAF AIRCREW

https://divsurg.afod-pofa.com/DIVSURG/APP/F/AMA/AMA400-02.pdf

17. Pre-Op Refractive Errors.
a. Aircrew candidates with a pre-op refractive error ≥- 6.00 diopters spherical equivalent must undergo a specific, dilated retinal assessment to assess for any underlying retinal pathology. The presence of any retinal pathology including lattice is disqualifying for aircrew selection with a pre-op SE ≥ - 6.00 diopters.
b. For Group A aircrew (Pilots, Search and Rescue Technicians and Aerospace Controllers), the pre-op refractive error must not exceed -8.00 diopters or +3.00 diopters spherical equivalent
c. For other aircrew, the maximum per-op myopic error may exceed -8.00 diopters but there must be no evidence of retinal pathology. The maximum hyeropic limit is +5.00 diopters SE.
d. Civilian aircrew candidates must provide their pre-op refractions when applying for CAF enrolment by completing DND2778 – Refractive Surgery- Information for Recruitment

And the requirement is similarly listed in Aircrew Medical Standards.
AMA DIRECTIVE 100-01
MEDICAL STANDARDS FOR CAF AIRCREW

https://aerospacemedicine.ca/AMA100-01.pdf

 

[wongerz]

Whether or not "luck" has any bearing on your life is a personal conclusion, but as to whether or not you would have any grounds on which to appeal this, probably not. In most cases of individuals appealing decisions to the RMO their argument is often based on differing opinions of specialists as to the history, diagnosis and/or outcome of an applicant's particular medical condition. In your case, your vision (pre-refractive surgery) was measured; the medical/vision standard required for CAF aircrew is clearly stated. You do not meet that standard.

AMA DIRECTIVE 400-02
LASER REFRACTIVE SURGERY FOR CAF AIRCREW

https://divsurg.afod-pofa.com/DIVSURG/APP/F/AMA/AMA400-02.pdf

And the requirement is similarly listed in Aircrew Medical Standards.
AMA DIRECTIVE 100-01
MEDICAL STANDARDS FOR CAF AIRCREW

https://aerospacemedicine.ca/AMA100-01.pdf

Thank you for the resource. I do have retinal pathology in my one eye so reference 17a. My pre-op 6.75 would be too high since SE would need to be under -6.00 hence why I got denied. I just wanted to confirm that since my med tech said that my combined refractive error of both eyes can't exceed -8.00 which I didn't quite understand since I have a friend who is currently a pilot who had -6.00 in both eyes before laser surgery. I might email my medical section but if I get surgery to remove that pathology, that would let me meet the standards. Since without retinal pathology, the standard would only be -8.00 for my preferred trade (17b) Would my CFRC let me send another air factor medical or am I just barred from ever having it regardless of what I do? I know I'm best asking my CFRC but just wanted some opinions.

 

[Good2Golf]

LASIK is essentially ablation of the corneal tissue. The amount of material vaporized when the refractive error approaches 7.00 diopters is substantial, and the cornea is correspondingly much thinner than it would be with a more mild correction. Flying, and diving require one is exposed to extremes of atmospheric pressure. A ruptured eyeball would not be a good thing.

If time in the chamber simulating explosive decompression in a pressurized aircraft is anything to go by, a thin cornea rupturing would be pretty undesirable…almost as much as having prime rib and the bloomin’ onion at Tony Roma’s the night before the chamber ride…

 

[Blackadder1916]

Thank you for the resource. I do have retinal pathology in my one eye so reference 17a. My pre-op 6.75 would be too high since SE would need to be under -6.00 hence why I got denied. I just wanted to confirm that since my med tech said that my combined refractive error of both eyes can't exceed -8.00 which I didn't quite understand since I have a friend who is currently a pilot who had -6.00 in both eyes before laser surgery. I might email my medical section but if I get surgery to remove that pathology, that would let me meet the standards. Since without retinal pathology, the standard would only be -8.00 for my preferred trade (17b) Would my CFRC let me send another air factor medical or am I just barred from ever having it regardless of what I do? I know I'm best asking my CFRC but just wanted some opinions.

Firstly, you have no idea what they are talking about in those directives. The "-8.00" is "Spherical Equivalent". (Spherical Equivalent SE= ½ cylinder + sphere). On an optical prescription "sphere" is the first number, "cylinder" is the second number.



My assumption is that your pre-op "-6.75" is the sphere of your right eye (o.d.), to exceed an SE of -8.00 the cylinder was probably -3.00 (i.e., -3.00/2 + -6.75 = -8.25). Using an example of the same cylinder for your "pilot friend", -3.00/2 + -6.00 = -7.50.