Lasik and Racing Licenses

So, I'm planning to get lasik in the next month or two. I recall there being something on the medical for my NASA competition license about vision surgery or something. Anyone know if there are any issues with getting Lasik and racing?

I can't see why there would be... but who knows.

Edit: A bit of searching and I found what I remembered. One of the check boxes on the medical form of current or past medical conditions says: "Operation(s) on eyes, nerves, blood vessels, or bone".

Although Lasik would technically count, I'm pretty sure it's a subjective thing that they won't deny a medical for. Heck, "hay fever" is one of the conditions on the list.

Still, if anyone has experience with this, please let me know.

I wish I could afford to have this problem! If pilots can fly after Lasik, I don't see why you can't drive.

Well, private pilots can. I know the military is uppity about Lasik, although they let people fly with PRK. I'm going to talk to the optometrist and see what their experience is.

Tim had lasik several years ago, never been an issue on his racing licenses.

Margie

I'm saving my nickels and dimes for Lasik. And I regret like hell not getting PRK done while I was in the Army.

Why not ask NASA? It's their question to answer, and it's not like it's an unusual procedure.

I had Lasik done earlier this year. I'd been wearing one contact lens for 23 years, and I still can't get over how much more comfortable life is. If you get a good laser jockey, it's wonderful. Not so much the day after the operation, though. Ow.

So what does LASIK or PRK cost these days?

I could have had the PRK done while I was in the Navy but I needed 12 months more of active duty & only had 10.

I did ask NASA and they said it was no biggie. They actually encouraged it as it reduced the numbers of glasses which they felt were a bigger risk

Who would I direct that question too with NASA?

As far as cost, I believe it's around $4k for both eyes from a good doctor.

Or you can go to Mexico and do it for 20,000 pesos.

Or $500/ eye in Canada

I know who I'd ask if it was for a NASA rally license. Come to think of it, I should probably update my info...

Just go to the website of your local chapter and look for "contact us". Ask one of the people there and your question will percolate through the system.

There are ads around here for Lasik for $595/eye, but of course it always ends up being more. I paid about $2500 overall for one eye, and that was done by the best guy in Colorado instead of Dr. Nick Riviera. Same guy who did my wife's eyes 5 years ago. I wasn't willing to take the risk on anyone else, I'd heard too many horror stories about the locals.

The Lasik center with the best reputation in the Sacramento region is, literally, around the corner from my apartment. I'm planning to go there. My vision is important, and I want a place that will do it right.

They addressed why it is that they charge what they do, and explained the actual premium on their service is not substantially more than you pay from those "budget" places. Things like, if you are not 100% happy with the correction, they will refine it. No, "20/40 is close enough" b.s. Not to mention top doctors and latest equipment.

And of course, it costs twice as much if you have really crap vision to start with, like 20/200. If/when I get lasik done, I'll have to do the fancy "wavefront" kind.

That is, if I can't wait long enough for corneal implants to come out. Those have the bonus of being removable/replaceable.

Regional director basically said, if your doctor signs off on it, it's all good.

RoosterSauce wrote: And of course, it costs twice as much if you have really crap vision to start with, like 20/200. If/when I get lasik done, I'll have to do the fancy "wavefront" kind.

Newsflash, but 20/200 isn't all that bad. Lots of people have WAAAAY worse than that. I'm pretty sure that's what I have in my worse I, and I have much better vision than the vast majority of other glasses wearers that I've met. I have a friend with something like 20/800.

Salanis wrote: Regional director basically said, if your doctor signs off on it, it's all good.

RoosterSauce wrote: And of course, it costs twice as much if you have really crap vision to start with, like 20/200. If/when I get lasik done, I'll have to do the fancy "wavefront" kind.

Newsflash, but 20/200 isn't all that bad. Lots of people have WAAAAY worse than that. I'm pretty sure that's what I have in my worse I, and I have much better vision than the vast majority of other glasses wearers that I've met. I have a friend with something like 20/800.

I don't even know what I have as far as the 20/xxx rating, but everything goes completely out of focus past 8 inches in front of my face.

RoosterSauce wrote: I don't even know what I have as far as the 20/xxx rating, but everything goes completely out of focus past 8 inches in front of my face.

Do you know what lens correction factor you have? Mine is pretty small, like -1.50 right and -1.75 left.

My dad had laser done, and he's disappointed with it. Turned near sighted into far sighted. And being that he does alot with the scroll saw that sucks for him!

Joey

Salanis wrote:

RoosterSauce wrote: I don't even know what I have as far as the 20/xxx rating, but everything goes completely out of focus past 8 inches in front of my face.

Do you know what lens correction factor you have? Mine is pretty small, like -1.50 right and -1.75 left.

Yours is almost the same as I am, -1.75 right and -2.00 left. When I was tested for my drivers license, I had the same prescription as you. I had them do it without the glasses. I passed. That is worrisome.