Daniel Chatfield,

Your description of the physiology of the eye is accurate as far as I know, but your conclusions are way too restrictive IMHO.

For me, the physicians say that my astigmatism is too severe to adequately correct with glasses.  Also, the acuity difference from left to right eye is so great that stereopsis also suffers unduly with glasses.  Both are well corrected with gas permeable contacts which I have worn for 20 years plus.  As I reached 40 or so, my reading vision suffered and I have until recently worn drug store readers over the contacts.  This combination has given me corrected 20/20 at distant and near for many years now.  When the FAA recently approved multi-focal contacts and intra-ocular lens implants I thought I would try this type of contact lens.

My optometrist and lens lab have been working with me for about a month to create the optimal pair.  Right now I see 20/20 at 16", 32" and at distance in each eye separately and both eyes together solely with the contact lenses.  The "learning" period for use of these has been short and easy.

IMHO you should consider that eye glasses are not the only solution open to those of us surgical fraidy cats who want to do away with the readers.  Since my last report, I am happy to add that the night vision in these is also getting significantly better with each tweak.  Still not confident to fly at night in them but I think we will get there and will not sacrifice acuity to do it.

Stay tuned.

BTW, Daniel, remember that mono-vision (one lens for near and the other for far) is prohibited by the FAA for flying.  Each eye separately plus the pair together must meet all the acuity standards in the FARs.


Tom Thibault