CORNEAL REFRACTIVE SURGERY AND FLIGHT SAFETY

For both VFR and as IFR flight, Visual assessment is the major source of information for the pilot. The new possibilities for change of refr action by means of corneal refractive surgery have led to an increasin g demand from pilots for these new methods. Can these methods successf ully be applied for aviation purposes! The valid regulations for medic al standards of pilots, as well as the future international regulation s such as JAR and KAO, are explained in this respect. A report is give n on the work of the Advisory Board of the German Federal Government A ir Traffic Authority and on the cases treated so far and their outcome , and recommendations are expressed. Concerning the legal situation an d clinical experience, advice for pilots, aviation medical examiners a nd ophthalmologists is given.