Had LASIK? You're Good to Fly.
Refractive surgery is fully accepted by the FAA — and as of August 2025, wait times are shorter than ever. Thousands of pilots have had LASIK, PRK, or SMILE and hold active medical certificates.
Updated Wait Times (August 2025)
The FAA significantly reduced recovery requirements in 2025. LASIK and SMILE now require just 2 weeks before you can fly. PRK requires 12 weeks. Cataract surgery has been reduced from up to 2 years down to just 3 months.
Once healed, this goes through standard issuance — no Special Issuance required. Your AME can issue your certificate at your appointment.
What You'll Need
If your surgery was recent, bring your post-operative records and a current refraction to your AME visit. If the procedure was within 3 months, you may also need a Refractive Surgery Status Summary form.
If your surgery was more than a few months ago and your vision is stable, it's typically a non-issue — just disclose it on MedXPress and meet the vision standards at your exam.
Lens Implants and Cataract Surgery
Intraocular lens implants require as little as 2 weeks of recovery. Cataract surgery, previously one of the longest waits, is now just 3 months. These changes have made certification much more accessible for older pilots.
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