LASIK Now an Option

[ReconJos]

Anyone already on active duty in a flying status have this done?

DBatt,

I'm a Prowler ECMO who had LASIK in January 2010. Can't say enough marvelous things about it. The eye doc was ready to give me an up chit at 2 weeks post-op, but waited til 4 just to be safe. I went from 20/300 to 20/16 (L) and 20/400 to 20/12 (R), overnight, with zero pain.

18 months later, my left eye is stabilized at 20/16 and my right is 20/30. I'm also pregnant right now which can cause some vision changes; at my most recent physical the doc who checked me said she expects the right eye should go back to 20/20 or better after delivery.

If you want to know more, just ask.

 

[eas7888]

From my conversations with the flight doc here at API. If I were to get LASIK in the near future, I could get my up chit at two weeks (like ReconJos mentioned) if all was well. Luckily, my vision is pretty good right now, but I'm quickly becoming an old man,and I know my vision is getting worse. It's nice to know that LASIK is an option.

 

[DocT]

There's about three of us in my squadron who looking to have it done. We just went through our flight doc and optometry...the whole process seems fairly simple for current flyers.

 

[squorch2]

I'm a Prowler ECMO who had LASIK in January 2010.

I'm also pregnant right now

I keed, I keed...

 

[SynixMan]

There's about three of us in my squadron who looking to have it done. We just went through our flight doc and optometry...the whole process seems fairly simple for current flyers.

Is the Navy doc doing it or are they referring you out in town?

 

[jarhead2b]

I have gone through the headache of a civilian with LASIK to SNA in primary right now. 3-4 eye exams pre-OCS, 2 eye exams in OCS, one at API, and my last annual medical. It sucks no matter which road you take. There is plenty of bad gouge out there so make sure you do all your research before pulling the trigger on the surgery. With the delays, headaches, and the metric butt load of eye exams over the last 9 months, it was completely worth it no matter what anyone says. The biggest hurdle for most applicants is the fact that many in the recruiting command are not up to speed on this program. Good to note that once you've made it to the flight line the surgery scrutiny subsides. Complete annual flight physical took just less than an hour, where before the eye exam would've been that long alone.

 

[DocT]

Is the Navy doc doing it or are they referring you out in town?

Navy docs as far as I know.

 

[shutout39]

I had LASIK done July 27th. Right eye went from 20/50 to 20/20 - left eye from from 20/60 to 20/30...my doc expects this to keep getting better as time goes on. My concern is that I keep reading stories like ReconJos who had much worse vision before surgery and have 20/20 (or better results) the next day.

I am also stressing the 6 month wait until I can try for a waiver. I guess I was naive enough to assume when it said MINIMUM 3 months they would consider the waiver at 3 months if your post ops went well. Does anyone know how long after a pro-rec you have to get the waiver before they tell you to screw off? Word on the forum is mid September we will know the results of the board - at that point I will be just about 2 months post op.

 

[pourts]

I had LASIK done July 27th. Right eye went from 20/50 to 20/20 - left eye from from 20/60 to 20/30...my doc expects this to keep getting better as time goes on. My concern is that I keep reading stories like ReconJos who had much worse vision before surgery and have 20/20 (or better results) the next day.

I am also stressing the 6 month wait until I can try for a waiver. I guess I was naive enough to assume when it said MINIMUM 3 months they would consider the waiver at 3 months if your post ops went well. Does anyone know how long after a pro-rec you have to get the waiver before they tell you to screw off? Word on the forum is mid September we will know the results of the board - at that point I will be just about 2 months post op.

I could tell you not to stress becuase it won't help anything, but I am guilty of the same kind of thing. My vision was never really 20/20 after PRK, though I could fake it with super-hydration, rest, eye drops, no reading the day before and a little squinting. After 24 months I had to wear glasses to fly. It pisses me off whenever I hear DJ's on the radio give endorsements for the local LASIK guy because they are now 20/15. How come that guy gets to be 20/15? I had the same surgery and actually need superior vision for my job, yet my vision slipped to 20/30.

The world is not fair.

And those commercials are not true.

So I won't let it piss me off any more. Starting now.

 

[jbombs]

Well I had LASIK done, got picked up for the LASIK in Aviation Research Program, and am now down in IFS/API in Pensacola with an appointment soon with NAMI (or NOMI depending on who you ask lol). I'll let you guys know how that goes. All that was required for it at OCS besides all my paperwork from the day I was born was an extra appointment in CandiO phase at Medical for more tests.

 

[Crazy*Carl]

I had LASIK done July 27th. Right eye went from 20/50 to 20/20 - left eye from from 20/60 to 20/30...my doc expects this to keep getting better as time goes on. My concern is that I keep reading stories like ReconJos who had much worse vision before surgery and have 20/20 (or better results) the next day.

I am also stressing the 6 month wait until I can try for a waiver. I guess I was naive enough to assume when it said MINIMUM 3 months they would consider the waiver at 3 months if your post ops went well. Does anyone know how long after a pro-rec you have to get the waiver before they tell you to screw off? Word on the forum is mid September we will know the results of the board - at that point I will be just about 2 months post op.

I was pro rec'ed in nov 2010 and had LASIK January 27 2011. I was denied the 3 month and justwas granted the waiver from my 6 month. My OCS date is oct 9. I think LASIK requires a 6 month wait right now.

 

[ami5015]

Crazy Carl - are you going USMC? Was the waiver granted from BUMED or NAMI? I had to wait until my 6 month post op results came in before i could re-submit my BUMED. I submitted that in February and still havent heard back from them. Wondering if it took other people this long to get the 'physically qualified' letter from BUMED...

 

[Crazy*Carl]

USN. I was granted the LASIK Waiver. I don't know if it was from NAMI or BUMED, it just said from the department of the Navy. There will be additional tests in NAMI for it when I get there to get into the LASIK in aviation research protocol.

 

[Dmavs]

​

Hi All,

New to the forum so bear with me please. I'll keep it short and simple.

Here's the deal, I got my eyes set on becoming a pilot and I'll be starting NROTC in a year when I go into my junior year of college, I have a good GPA, 20 years old, no criminal past, etc. I have it all mapped out basically. However my eyesight is horrible, to say the least(myopic). My Rx for glasses is -8.25 in my right eye and -7.25 in the left one (around 20/800 in both). Two weeks ago I scheduled a consultation with a laser eye center to find out if I was a candidate for LASIK or PRK, turns out I am and all is good. But..Long story short: Pre-Op refractive error limit is what's keeping me up at night. My question to you all is: Do I have ANY chance of getting a waiver given my refractive error? Are these limits written in stone or is there any leeway for someone who is right on the limit or slightly past it?
P.S: I had my cycloplegic exam yesterday, turns out.. RIGHT: sphere= -7.00, cylinder= -1.50 LEFT: sphere= -8.00, cylinder= -0.25. However, after transposition I'm looking at -8.50 in the right and -8.25 in the left. I don't know if the Navy looks at your refractive error after transposition or not? If someone has a clue, please chime in.

Anyway I'd greatly appreciate it if you guys could shed some light on my situation so I can hopefully start eating again haha. Thanks guys​

 

[intelkw]

Calling all LASIK SNA applicants:

Did you get a waiver?
Has anyone gotten a waiver less than 6 months post-op?

This is the current NAMI waiver guide as of May, 2010:
http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/navmedmpte/nomi/nami/arwg/Documents/Waiver%20Guide%20-%20Complete%20110208.pdf

Section 12.15B Lasik in Student Aviator Study
"At least three months have elapsed since surgery or re-treatment and evidence of stable
refractive error."

So why has everyone (including myself) been told that it's minimum 6 month wait before a waiver is granted? Whats up with that and why isn't it in the Regs?