Rapid change in air pressure can affect the gas or air bubble, but it does not affect floaters or flashes. The only time it may not be safe to fly is if you have had retina surgery and have a gas or air bubble in your eye following the surgery. The recurrence rate in the same eye was 21.3%. Results: The average age of the patients was 48.51 years, 760 patients (62.7%) were male, and 630 patients (52.0%) had right eye disease. The rate of recurrent retinal detachment was calculated, and risk factors were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. How likely is a second retinal detachment? This is because the change in altitude may cause the gas bubble to expand and increase the pressure inside the eye. The bubble will move to the front of the eye and press against the lens instead of the retina. What can you not do with a detached retina?ĭo not lie on your back. The FAA requires that civil airmen with refractive surgical procedures (e.g., PRK, LASIK) discontinue flying until their eyecare specialist has determined that their vision is stable and there are no significant adverse effects or complications. Item 50 of FAA Form 8500-8, and visual standards are applied as usual. Can you get a first class medical with one eye?Īn individual with one eye, or effective visual acuity equivalent to monocular, may be considered for medical certification, any class, through the special issuance section of part 67 (14 CFR 67.401). However, sometimes retinal holes become a retinal detachment, which constitutes an ophthalmological emergency. Traveling by plane will not worsen the holes or folds of the retina. 24 What vitamin deficiency causes floaters in the eyes? Can flying make detached retina worse?

Torn retina surgery