Glaucoma AASI : Further FAA Medical Workup
Apr 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 274, 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).
An FAA physician provides the initial certification decision and grants the Authorization in accordance with 14 CFR § 67.401. The Authorization letter is accompanied by attachments that specify the information that treating physician(s) must provide for the re-issuance determination.
If this is a first-time application for an AASI for glaucoma, and the applicant has all the requisite medical information necessary for a determination, the AME must defer and submit all of the documentation to the AMCD or the Regional Flight Surgeon for the initial determination.
AMEs may re-issue an airman medical certificate under the provisions of an Authorization, if the applicant provides the following:
- An Authorization granted by the FAA;
- Certification only granted for open-angle-glaucoma and ocular hypertension;
- The FAA Form 8500-14, Glaucoma Eye Evaluation Form is filled out by the treating eye specialist; and
- A set of visual fields measurements is provided.
The AME must defer to the AMCD or Region if:
- The FAA Form 8500-14 Glaucoma Eye Evaluation Form demonstrates visual acuity incompatible with the medical standards; or
- There is a change in visual fields or adverse change in ocular pressure.
AME Assisted Special Issuance (AASI) is a process that provides Examiners the ability to re-issue an airman medical certificate under the provisions of an Authorization for Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate (Authorization) to an applicant who has a medical condition that is disqualifying under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 67.
An FAA physician provides the initial certification decision and grants the Authorization in accordance with 14 CFR § 67.401 (Special Issuance Section). The Authorization letter is accompanied by attachments that specify the information that treating physician(s) must provide for the re-issuance determination.
If this is a first-time application for an AASI for Glaucoma, and the applicant has all the requisite medical information necessary for a determination, the Examiner must defer and submit all of the documentation to the AMCD or Regional Flight Surgeon for the initial determination.
Examiners may re-issue an airman medical certificate under the provisions of an Authorization, if the applicant provides the following:
- An Authorization granted by the FAA
- Certification only granted for open-angle-glaucoma and ocular hypertension
- The FAA Form 8500-14, Glaucoma Eye Evaluation Form, is filled out by the treating eye specialist, and
- A set of visual fields measurements is provided.
The Examiner must defer to the AMCD or Region if:
- FAA Form 8500-14, Glaucoma Eye Evaluation Form, demonstrates visual acuity incompatible with the eye and vision medical standards, or
- There is a change in visual fields or adverse change in ocular pressure.
OCULAR DISEASE OR CONDITION |
CLASS |
EVALUATION DATA |
DISPOSITION |
---|---|---|---|
Chorioretinitis; Coloboma; Corneal Ulcer or Dystrophy; Optic Atrophy or Neuritis; Retinal Degeneration or Detachment; Retinitis Pigmentosa; Papilledema; or Uveitis |
All |
Submit all pertinent medical information and current status report |
Requires FAA Decision |
|
All |
Review all pertinent medical information and current status report, including Form 8500-14 |
See Glaucoma Worksheet. If airman meets all certification criteria – AME Authorized to Issue the Certificate. All others require FAA decision. Submit all evaluation data.
Initial Special Issuance - Requires FAA Decision |
|
All |
Submit all pertinent medical information and current status report |
Requires FAA Decision |
Tumors |
All |
Submit all pertinent medical information and current status report |
Requires FAA Decision |
Vascular Occlusion; Retinopathy |
All |
Submit all pertinent medical information and current status report |
Requires FAA Decision |
Related Pages:
Glaucoma Related
- Glaucoma AASI Protocol (This Page)
- Glaucoma Worksheet
Medical History Related to the Eye
Anatomy (Eye Structure)
Physiology (Visual Function)
- 50. Distant Vision
- 51.a. Near Vision
- 51.b. Intermediate Vision
- 52. Color Vision
- 53. Field of Vision
- 54. Heterophoria
Medical Flight Tests for those with Waiverable Vision Defects
- Medical Flight Tests Overview
- Medical Flight Tests General Instructions
- Decision Flow Chart for Pilots Who Fail Color Vision Test (Graphic)
- Medical Flight Tests Procedures
- Color Vision Flight Test
- Medical Flight Tests: Signal Light Test
- Medical Flight Tests: Monocular Vision (for pilots with vision in a single eye )
- Operational Color Vision Test (OCVT)
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