peregrinerose

I wouldn't suggest it... you can have a weird open and smack your goggles/eye on a riser. If you've ever seen a dislocated flap and the excrutiating pain it causes, you'd understand why I'm pretty emphatic about making sure the cornea has plenty of time to heal post-op Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Keep in mind that the non jumper doctor is likely only thinking about the altitude change... NOT the risk of getting hit in the eye/head by another jumper... it's just not a risk factor that crosses their mind. THAT is the reason to wait longer than 2 weeks. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I think you are thinking of PRK, not LASEK. LASEK does involve a flap still, only a more superficially located flap than LASIK. PRK removes the top layer of cells on the cornea. It takes longer for the vision to hit 20/20 (like you said, about 3 days), it's also more uncomfortable than LASIK... it feels like a corneal abrasion post op for a couple of days. Advantage is no flap, so the cornea will return to it's original strength much more quickly than with LASIK. Edited to add this link.... http://www.allaboutvision.com/visionsurgery/other.htm Gives a decent summary of most of the different refractive procedures. The one not mentioned is ortho-k... molding the cornea with RGP contact lenses worn overnight. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

LASIK and other refractive surgeries have been shown to decrease contrast sensitivity in clinical tests. For most patients, this change isn't really noticable on a functional basis, but if yours is already poor, it may decline. As you brought up, halos can be an issue... this is worse in people with larger pupil sizes, but there's a lot of variabilty on this. The newer wavefront technology seems to improve this over the previous version of LASIK. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

It's presbyopia that sets in around age 40 (myopia is just another word for nearsightedness), and visual acuity would be 20/2000 uncorrected (not 2000/20). It isn't a saw that is used. The device is called a microkeratome, more like a very very very fine razor blade, and some centers now use a laser for this part of the procedure. The eye is never cut open.. a flap is created in the cornea and peeled back, the tissue under the flap is molded with the laser, and the flap replaced... the eyeball itself does remain intact. I'd recommend waiting a lot longer than a week to jump... the cornea has no blood supply so takes a long time to heal... blood supplies the raw materials to heal any cut... a cut on your hand requires more than a week to heal, so imagine that a cornea, without the same access to raw materials would take much longer. By 2 months post op you are at about 80% original corneal strength. 100% doesn't happen for even longer after that. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Not as far as I know either, and I'm an eye doc There were some issues with high altitudes and RK in mountain climbers... a couple of corneas decompensated and got really ugly, but LASIK isn't remotely the same procedure. To the original poster, do a search, you'll find a lot of information. I personally won't do it, as I wouldn't jump for a couple of months afterwords to let the flap heal solidly and I'm perfectly happy with my extended wear contacts (I sleep in them probably 90% of the time) so see no reason to take the risk for little to no benefit. But that is just my decision.... I do a lot of LASIK pre/post op work and see beautiful results every day. I've also seen really crappy results, if you decide to have refractive surgery (there are far more options than just LASIK), BE PICKY!!!!! Chose your surgeon well. I had a patient yesterday who was told by 2 surgeons her cornea was too thin for LASIK, so she got a 3rd opinion and is now talking about going to a laser mill that just wants her money and doesn't care that she's not a good candidate. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I agree with this. The one thing that bothers me most about rigging is the lack of 'continuing ed' requirement ... and lack of continuing ed type options available. Doctors are required to have continuing education in order to maintain their licenses to practice why shouldn't riggers? I'd love to have some form of regional continuing ed for riggers, but other than PIA I'm not aware of much in the area. Greg, good post. Chad and I both learned so much from you, and probably the most important thing that rubbed off was your attitude toward rigging... 'stuff' can be learned from a lot of different resources, ethics can not. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

People are lonely... they go out less, spend less time with friends, more time staring at a computer monitor. Blogging is probably one way to reach out and try to feel some form of connection with other people. Seems to me there are better ways to go about doing that, but a lot of people are shy and don't know how to go about making real friends. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

To a point, the kids DID ask for these things to happen... they weren't kidnapped... they voluntarily met the abusers. That doesn't make the abusers' actions right, but some responsibility has to be put on the parents for not educating their children regarding responsible 'net use, for not paying attention to where there children are going and who they are meeting.... realistically, the first step in the chain was the kids making the poor decision to meet these guys to begin with. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I jump a Spectre 150 and have a few jumps on a friend's Pilot 132, have to admit, I really enjoyed jumping it... Spectreish openings, consistently good. I liked how it handled, particularly with regard to riser input. I'm not in the market for another canopy right now, but if I was, I'd consider it along with the sabre2 (which my husband flies and loves). Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Can we do a PeltWay in Dublin????? Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

You can send the Racer to Jump Shack, they will put on the 2 sided RSL. Or you can take the same Racer to a Master Rigger and he can put on the normal 1 sided RSL (which is what my husband and I did). Actually, I'd recommend Greg at Skydive Temple... he used to be the master rigger at our DZ and did Chad's RSL. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Some riggers don't like packing Racers, don't let that make your decision for you If the container is in good shape, there's no reason not to jump it. Both my husband and I jumped Racers for the last 3 years... we bought the containers used. We both had RSLs added, only cost about $50 (sure beat buying a new container!). I'm the rigger that packs both of them. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Have you talked with a physical therapist regarding your question? That would probably be the best place to get some information. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I about wanted to throw up just looking at those. I don't do heights well either. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

By far, my favorite is the 'kitchen hammer'. Mine is straight from Craftsman, so if it ever breaks, they'll replace it. Highly useful for tenderizing meat, chopping nuts, smashing garlic, extremely versitile! My husband says I'm the only person he's ever met that uses a hammer in the kitchen, but even he agrees that it is definitely useful. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

That's one of Dave DeWolf's favorite jokes Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Start as a packer. My husband and I have been doing it for 2 years, this coming year will be our last year as packers. Packing has paid for all of our jumps, all of our gear, and plenty of leftover for beer and to help us take a couple of skydiving trips. Plus being there all day puts you in a great place to listen and learn from all the instructors/jumpers about the other areas of jumping. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

My husband and I went to Eloy this year. We both had under 200 jumps at the time. When we got there, we spent a good hour or more watching other loads, landing patterns, looking at maps, and getting an intro to the DZ by one of the staff members. After we both felt we had a good feel for the DZ, we jumped our asses off and had a great time. We both loved Eloy and will be going back in February with a lot of friends from PA. The only drawback of Eloy is because it is so heavily a team/training DZ that in 3 days there, we only did 2 ways, there just wasn't much of a fun jumper population there to do anything else. We learned a few good drill dives by watching teams dirt dive and modifying it to a 2 way though, so we still learned a lot and had a great time. Go, have fun!! Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

My best guess on my smacker open was in part higher altitude than my home dropzone (this was at Mile High, in CO). Maybe I didn't stop tracking long enough? I know of 2 people that had compression fractures from getting smacked by a spectre open, but I don't think it's a spectre thing.. any canopy can do that. One smack out of almot 300 jumps now on that canopy isn't too bad, I'm happy to consider it a fluke. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I fly a Spectre 150 at about 1.1/1, about 250 jumps on it. I had wicked line twists once... on a night jump. That was my own fault. It was a three way, we did everything we planned to do, so spun the round just for fun. I was the one designated to pull at 5K, didn't realize I was still turning a bit when I pulled. But the canopy flew straight, and I had plenty of time to kick out since I pulled that high to begin with. Only other one was a jump in CO that gave me insta canopy, I couldn't move anything for several seconds, just limp in the harness. That scared me a bit. I was lucky, no permanent damage. Every other open has been fine though. Both of those issues could have happened on any canopy though, neither was a unique to spectre issue. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Walt, happy birthday! Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

Enjoy your new rig... who the hell cares what color it is, it's YOURS!! And you'll be easy to spot in the sky My husband jumped a container that was hot pink and baby blue and the main was the same color scheme for a couple of years. He just got his new (also just new to him) rig a week ago. I just finished the reserve repack, so it's good to go now. Remember the most important thing.... you now owe beer

I'm also quite curious about this one, so let me know too! Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

I understand you completely here! I'm a D and am seriously considering a reduction once my student loans are paid off. Gravity and D cups are not a nice combo past 30!! Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda