Glaucoma Checklist: Derived from FAA AME Guide Glaucoma Worksheet

Instructions to AMEs Examining Pilots with Glaucoma

Mar 2014

Abbreviated Briefing:

Even if you have Glaucoma, you might still eventually pass an FAA Flight Physical and be eligible for Airman Medical Certification if you meet these 6 criteria:

  • Were over Age 40 at time of diagnosis
  • Your Glaucoma is stable with intraocular pressure less than 23 mmHg
  • Your type of Glaucoma is Acceptable
  • Medications used to treat the condition are on the acceptable list
  • No Medication Side Effects
  • No nerve damage, visual field or vision defects

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Guidance is compiled and interpreted by professional pilots and physicians at FlightPhysical.com from the 2014 AME Guide page 69, FAA and FDA web data (www.FAA.gov & www.FDA.gov), instructions specified in the Aeronautical Information Manual, Federal Air Surgeon Bulletins from 1999-2015, and 14 CFR Part 61 and Part 67 (the FARs).

The Examiner must review a current status report by the treating physician and any supporting documents to determine the applicant’s eligibility for certification. If the applicant meets ALL the acceptable certification criteria listed below, the Examiner can issue. Applicants for first- or second- class must provide this information annually; applicants for third-class must provide the information with each required exam.

Glaucoma Checklist

Derived from FAA Glaucoma Worksheet, 2014 AME Guide, page 63

 

AME MUST REVIEW

ACCEPTABLE CERTIFICATION CRITERIA

Treating ophthalmologist finds the condition stable on current regimen and no changes recommended.

[ ] Yes

Age at diagnosis

[ ] 40 or older

FAA Form 8500-14 or equivalent treating physician report that documents the considerations below:

[ ] Yes

Acceptable types of glaucoma

[ ] Open Angle being monitored and stable, Ocular Hypertension or Glaucoma Suspect being monitored and stable, or previous history of Narrow Angle/Angle Closure Glaucoma which has been treated with iridectomy /iridotomy (surgical or laser) and is currently stable.

NOT acceptable: Normal Tension Glaucoma, secondary glaucoma due to inflammation, trauma, or the presence of any other significant eye pathology (e.g. neovascular glaucoma due to proliferative diabetic retinopathy or an ischemic central vein occlusion or uveitic glaucoma)

Documented nerve damage or trabeculectomy (filtration surgery)

[ ] No

Medications

[ ] None or Prostaglandin analogs (Xalatan, Lumigan, Travatan or Travatan Z), Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (Trusopt and Azopt), Beta blockers (Timoptic, etc), or Alpha agonist (Alphagan). Combination eye drops are acceptable

NOT acceptable: Pilocarpine or other miotics, cycloplegics (Atropine), or oral medications

Medication side effects

[ ] None

Intraocular pressure

[ ] 23 mm Hg or less in both eyes

ANY evidence of defect or reported Unreliable Visual Fields

FAA Note: Acceptable visual field tests: Humphrey 24-2 or 30-2 (either SITA or full threshold), Octopus (either TOP or full threshold). Other formal visual field testing may be acceptable but you must call for approval. Confrontation or screening visual field testing is not acceptable.

[ ] No

AME MUST NOTE in Item 60: AME Comments on History and Findings one of the following:

[ ] Airman meets certification criteria for glaucoma.
[ ] Airman had a previous Special Issuance for this condition and now meets the regular issuance certification criteria for glaucoma.
[ ] Airman does NOT meet certification criteria for glaucoma. I have deferred this exam. (Mail the supporting documents to FAA identifying which criteria were not met.)


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