A pilot: “I have been dreaming about flying since early childhood.” Learn a patient’s story

Laser vision correction is an increasingly popular solution among all those who want to get rid of their refractive error. For some it means greater comfort, for others it is a chance to pursue their dream career. Learn a story of a patient for whom laser vision correction became a pass to the job of a pilot.

„Who would you like to be when you grow up? Almost every child hears this question, but the answer to it keeps changing depending on new circumstances or fascination with a new super hero. In my case it was different. I have stuck to my childhood ideals. I have always wanted to become a pilot. I had an uncle who used to be a military pilot and later went on to fly in civil airlines. I still remember the feeling of admiration and pride when he let me put on his uniform and wear it at home.

As a teenager, I spent many hours in front of a computer every day, playing games obviously. I was captivated by all sorts of aviation games, especially flight simulators. I believed they would help me become a better pilot one day and I did not realise they actually worked to my disadvantage and the time spent staring at a screen reduced my chances to pursue the dream career. Soon afterwards I was already studying in a civil aviation school, yet it turned out then that my vision deteriorated significantly and during a medical examination I obtained a class 2 medical certificate. The reason for that was my short-sightedness, which did not fall within the acceptable range for class 1. For a moment I thought my plans to become a professional pilot were completely thwarted, but then I heard about laser vision correction.

First I made an appointment for an ophthalmologic examination qualifying for a laser vision correction surgery in a one-day-procedure mode. During the examination an ophthalmic surgeon conducted a series of tests and measurements, informed me that my short-sightedness was possible to be corrected, explained the course of the surgery to me and answered all my questions. I had the surgery on the same day. The whole procedure was very quick – it did not take more than 20 minutes on both eyes. I did not feel any pain as I had eye numbing anaesthetic drops applied. I knew I was in the hands of a professional. When the recovery time was over, I had a follow-up examination. The ophthalmologist put it really shortly: “eyes like a hawk”. It has been quite a few years since the surgery. Today I work as plane captain for a reputable airline and I feel professionally accomplished.”

Far-sightedness, short-sightedness and astigmatism are refractive errors which may prevent us from achieving our professional goals. Those who are planning to pursue a career as a pilot or work in other uniformed services should take their health, including eyesight, into serious consideration. In our clinic we have corrected refractive errors of many future pilots, police officers, fire fighters and professional drivers of various vehicles.

If you want to realise your professional goals and your vision defect is an obstacle on your way to career, make an appointment for a preliminary qualifying examination in our centre. In order to do so contact us on the phone or fill in a qualification form online. If you need initial verification of your eligibility for a laser vision correction surgery, use the ASK A DOCTOR tab or fill in an online Preliminary qualification form.

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