Cataracts, intra-ocular lens implants, and a flying career

The successful correction of cataracts by intra-ocular lens implantation (pseudophakia) restores relatively normal physiological vision to cataract victims. In 1976, Canadian Aviation Authority began to restore flight status to pilots who had developed cataracts and had such surgery. In 1987, a follow-up study was done on the first 75 relicensed pilots. No aircraft incident was related to pseudophakic vision in 16,338 h post-surgery flight time. Air Transport Rated, Senior Commercial, and Private Pilots were included in the study, which covered the whole range of flight activity and all the variations in climatic conditions that are part of Canadian aviation. We conclude that pseudophakic correction of post-surgical cataract vision does not pose any significant hazard in a flight environment.