Custom PRK no good?

[Bernie Kosar]

My consultation is on thursday and i was gonna get just regular prk, but now with this amendment, should i consider getting WFG? Does NOMI change their policy on things like this? Regular prk is a sure thing, but with the start of the this thread, i kinda feel like wfg could be more risky as far as NOMI and their policy changing goes. What do you guys think?

also, i have read where it recomends wfg on page 21, but is this the entire prk section? Also where is the waiver guide that is spoken of? i want to make sure that i am checking all of and the right stuff. thanks
FDX

Links to the entire waiver guide can be found at http://www.nomi.med.navy.mil/NAMI/WaiverGuideTopics/index.htm.

I think that WFG PRK is the best way to go (that's just my opinion). For the current situation, if you get WFG when NOMI is recommending WFG then that, to me, seems to be the best course of action.

It is your decision though, I believe that the waiver guide states that for a candidate that cannot get WFG then conventional PRK is still waiverable. Currently, I do not know if they would be more likely to grant a waiver to someone with WFG?

It's your decision, you may want to contact NOMI for more information. I'm just trying to make sure that everyone is aware of NOMI's current PRK policy. The above link has their contact information. Keep in mind that I'm just a guy who is going through the process and not an authority on any of this stuff.

If you contact them then please post what you find out (do not use names though).

 

[zippy]

My consultation is on thursday and i was gonna get just regular prk, but now with this amendment, should i consider getting WFG? Does NOMI change their policy on things like this? Regular prk is a sure thing, but with the start of the this thread, i kinda feel like wfg could be more risky as far as NOMI and their policy changing goes. What do you guys think?

also, i have read where it recomends wfg on page 21, but is this the entire prk section? Also where is the waiver guide that is spoken of? i want to make sure that i am checking all of and the right stuff. thanks
FDX

If you have a plan to get regular PRK, IMO stick with the plan... Its a lot easier following the beaten path re: the Navy then it is to be one of the first to do something different.

 

[FDX]

OK, i emailed NOMI about the validity/permanancy of their new policy towards wavefront guided prk, and this is what the commander said:

"Although we don't "force" anyone to undergo surgery, our current policy
(unlikely to change again soon) is that Wavefront Guided PRK is the
preferred method for aviation. However, routine PRK is still allowed. This
was determined in the Fall when our NAMI and Navy Specialist met and
discussed this technique at length. It is all there on the Aeromedical
Reference and Waiver Guide on the website. The only drawback to wavefront
guided PRK is that it now requires 3 months prior to any waiver
consideration. Good luck in your quest and certainly follow your surgeon's
advice. I've included our NAMI Aviation Ophthalmology experts in the Cc
line above."

This is the address that i originally emailed if anyone wants to contact them for themselves: physquals@nomi.med.navy.mil