marine aviation eyesight...?

[reapergm]

Ok, wildflyin is exactly right, so is DB to an extent. Yes it has to do with refractive error, not youre sight amount. This is the EXACT information, and is up to date. Let this put an end to questions...

http://www.nomi.med.navy.mil/Nami/WaiverGuideTopics/ophthalmology.htm#lasik

That will give you exactly what you need. I actually printed that out and brought it along on my consultation to show the doctor and to make sure it is all in order and I qualify. He read the pages and confirmed that I am good to go. JFK - You are borderline, I would not suggest it. You will probably pass the physical. Just know, that the eye exam is a biatch. They are very THOROUGH!The only major deal with youre eyes, and the retractive error, is the waiting period. As you will see on the site, if you are above -5.75, you have a 3 month wait. Below -6.00, is a 6 month wait (which is where I am at). To make your life easier, just do what I did. Call the number on the bottom of the NAMI website, and ask. They will tell you. Good luck!

 

[DBLang]

thanks reapergm. let us all know how the PRK goes

 

[wildflyin69]

reaperGM, thanks for posting that site, I needed to print it to have it for my records, so I can get my waiver in 2 more weeks...It's 3 months on the 26th baby!!!

 

[E5B]

Originally posted by E5B
JFK, get your package going now, you can always switch it to ground before you commission. Thats what I did.

Switch it FROM ground.....is what I meant.

EP's are frying my brain...

 

[reapergm]

You switched from ground? I heard it was near impossible to do that?!

 

[Jarhead86]

im sitll in high school. i have bad eyes, but i am learning to fly on the civilain side of things. i know i pro. wont get to be a front seater, but do u guys know how bad ur eyes have to e before they wont allow u to be a back seater?

 

[plumberphil]

For PLC guys it is possible to switch from Ground to Air before you get your commission. After OCS you apply for a component transfer and if you get it then you get the Air Contract, if not then you stay Ground. My OSO says he hasn't had a component transferred denied for SNFO since he's been here. I hope he's right, but if not I'll still love my Ground Contract.

Jacob

 

[jfk]

yea so as it turns out i had a civilian eye exam done and i'm just barely exceeding the refraction limits. prk it is.

 

[reapergm]

PRK RULES!

 

[flyboy21]

Does anyone know if it is possible to get a waiver for having worse than -6.00 refraction? As far as I can tell from reading all the NOMI links and other material, people with worse than -6 are totally out of luck. However, I had an eye exam at NAS Meridian this summer, and the flight surgeon there told me that even though I had worse than -6.00, I still had a shot at getting a waiver down the road. Any thoughts?

 

[texag02]

yes its possible. theres currently a topic that discusses this...i think its "PRK tomorrow" or something along those lines. if you search around on this site you'll find some talk on it. from what i hear, post surgery wait is 6 mo. after PRK for refrac over 6, and 3 mo. for those under 6...but none of that is official, just what i've heard. also, someone a while back posted a letter from NOMI that you might search around to find.

 

[Jarhead86]

whats prk? ive heard it used before. im just curious, im just trying to figure out what i wanna do for the next 30 years of my life. lol

 

[reapergm]

PRK - Photorefractive Keratectomy http://www.prk.com/whatisPRK.html#PRK , laser eye correction that is currently being waiverable for combat military MOS's. Namely, aviation. GOOD TIMES for blind bastards like myself!

 

[Steel185]

I'm not sure if I'm going to help here but I just got healed up (3 months) and my eye sight is outstanding! My oso was all for it, there were pre-op requirements but I fit them just fine, it was the refraction test, but I wasn't worried about the numbers, just as long as I passed. now everything is great, I used to see 20/200 now its 20/20. Actually more like 20/12 but somehow the marines get all freaked if you see better than 20/20 so I just say I can't read that bottom line. I'm going to OCS 185 Ground and my OSO says I can apply to switch to air in TBS if I want, good chance they will except me. Either way its great, I don't have to wear glasses or contacts in the bush or in the air.

I can give you any details about the procedure if you want them, just let me know....oh and it isn't as painful as they say. More like a cross between a 5 day sunburn on your eyes and having a morbid fear of light, but after that everything gets better.