OCS Flight Physical

[MikeMillerUK]

I am aware of the risk involved, but from consulting with my dr. I have confidence that the result outcome would be successful. I am doing this for my own good to get rid of glasses and contacts, decision made before I even considered Naval Aviation.

I don't want to try to dissuade you, as it seems you have your mind made up. I think the most important question, however, is this: Would you rather go to OCS and hopefully become a Naval Aviator knowing that, as it stands, your vision is good enough, or would you rather get the surgery to get rid of your glasses and possibly risk losing the chance to be an aviator?

 

[speedroller]

I don't want to try to dissuade you, as it seems you have your mind made up. I think the most important question, however, is this: Would you rather go to OCS and hopefully become a Naval Aviator knowing that, as it stands, your vision is good enough, or would you rather get the surgery to get rid of your glasses and possibly risk losing the chance to be an aviator?

I see your point, but like you mentioned it already, I have my mind made up. I take my chances are very good of coming out of the surgery and being back to 20/20. It is a gamble, but I am willing to take it, considering NFO is less apealing for me.

 

[Mr Spenz]

This makes you ineligible for 6 months. You can't eve put in a packet until that is up and you will have to apply for a waiver. I would try to talk to a flight doc tbh.

 

[speedroller]

This makes you ineligible for 6 months. You can't eve put in a packet until that is up and you will have to apply for a waiver. I would try to talk to a flight doc tbh.

I am aware of the down time, this works out the way I have things lined up. Thanks for the heads up anyway.

 

[speedroller]

j.
While I realize this is your decision alone, I would be hesitant to undergo a surgical procedure to correct this minor degree of refractive error. Remember always that you don't have anything medical can't make worse. Bad outcomes do occasionally result from seemingly innocuous procedures, and a bad outcome in your case could ruin your chances for selection for aviation, or even general commissioning. Seen it happen.
R/

I've opted on not pursuing the surgery. Some readings revealed a possible complication after the surgery. My refractive error is very miniscule and I can almost "squint" 20/20 line. And turns out that I am correctable to 20/15. Even better! I will continue to do some eye "exercises" to maybe improve both eyes to 20/30 or better.
Thank you all for your inputs.

FLY NAVY!

 

[Sundevil106150]

I've opted on not pursuing the surgery. Some readings revealed a possible complication after the surgery. My refractive error is very miniscule and I can almost "squint" 20/20 line. And turns out that I am correctable to 20/15. Even better! I will continue to do some eye "exercises" to maybe improve both eyes to 20/30 or better.
Thank you all for your inputs.

FLY NAVY!

Hey I had a bit of a stigmatism and I had terrible vision. Now I am seeing 20/20 or 20/15 ish. Get the surgery. The only time you have to worry about complications is if your cornea is too thin or you have some type of issue with your nerve endings. I would go with Lasik as well. It is approved by Navy, hurts a hell of a lot less, and you start seeing better within 3 hours after surgery (not kidding). I had thick corneas and PRK would have been fine but my eye doctor said just go with LASIK. Its cheaper, you heal faster, exact same results, and it is approved by military. Dont worry about people who dramatize about flaps becoming undone, that happens very rarely and usually because of a shitty doctor or you did not follow through on post op procedures. It is on you to find a great doctor to perform the surgery. I found one of the best in Arizona and had no history of anything dramatic happening with his patients and was rated one of the top eye surgeons. Also the guy was cool and I felt good vibes form him. For SNA you need the 20/20 and MEPS is not going to have you squint. Stop wasting your time in hoping you can exercise your eye muscle or worrying about over correction. The machines used are so sophisticated you wont have to worry about it. It is worth the money. Go see an eye doctor first to give you the low down and do all the pre work (measure how thick your corneas are, your current eye sight, along with other measurements, health of your eye). He can explain everything to you and give you an honest assessment.

 

[MikeMillerUK]

I would agree with this if his vision weren't already within regulations. He already makes the 20/40 requirement, so why worry about possibly ruining that chance, no matter how small the risk. If he wants the surgery, get it later after being in the Navy down the road. No need to risk not getting accepted in the first place.

 

[Sundevil106150]

I would agree with this if his vision weren't already within regulations. He already makes the 20/40 requirement, so why worry about possibly ruining that chance, no matter how small the risk. If he wants the surgery, get it later after being in the Navy down the road. No need to risk not getting accepted in the first place.

Because the wait list is like 2 years to get the surgery and who knows if NAMI will approve him. SNA approves at 20/40 ?

 

[MikeMillerUK]

Because the wait list is like 2 years to get the surgery and who knows if NAMMY will approve him. SNA approves at 20/40 ?

Yes. 20/40 or better is acceptable if it's correctable to 20/20. Also, if the wait time is 2 years, then he would have to wait 2 years + 6 months before he can even apply, then however long it takes him to put together the application. Age could become a factor at that point. Also, I went to MEPS with a guy who was applying for SNA who previously had LASIK. He was disqualified because his vision had not stayed perfect. More than just "flaps coming undone" can be a disqualifying factor with LASIK/PRK. Also, having LASIK is an automatic disqualification requiring a waiver. If everything isn't perfect after the surgery, it's a no go. Considering all of that along with the fact that he's already within regulations, it doesn't seem worth it to me.

 

[Sundevil106150]

Yes. 20/40 or better is acceptable if it's correctable to 20/20. Also, if the wait time is 2 years, then he would have to wait 2 years + 6 months before he can even apply, then however long it takes him to put together the application. Age could become a factor at that point. Also, I went to MEPS with a guy who was applying for SNA who previously had LASIK. He was disqualified because his vision had not stayed perfect. More than just "flaps coming undone" can be a disqualifying factor with LASIK/PRK. Also, having LASIK is an automatic disqualification requiring a waiver. If everything isn't perfect after the surgery, it's a no go. Considering all of that along with the fact that he's already within regulations, it doesn't seem worth it to me.

That guys at MEPS either got it a long time ago or had a bad doctor. Navy wait for LASIK to get it in while in NAVY takes forever (2 years in some cases). If he went to doctor now it could be within a week or two after he did his pre op stuff and the doctor said he was good to go. Get the surgery, all you need is a form filled out by your eye doctor. He is going to have to get it corrected so he might as well do it now. 6months after surgery you are seeing a perfect 20/20 99.99 % of the time so he will be fine. If anything just go to an eye doctor that is one of the best. My doctor did Lasik/PRK on dozens of current Naval aviators.

 

[speedroller]

Hey I had a bit of a stigmatism and I had terrible vision. Now I am seeing 20/20 or 20/15 ish. Get the surgery. The only time you have to worry about complications is if your cornea is too thin or you have some type of issue with your nerve endings. I would go with Lasik as well. It is approved by Navy, hurts a hell of a lot less, and you start seeing better within 3 hours after surgery (not kidding). I had thick corneas and PRK would have been fine but my eye doctor said just go with LASIK. Its cheaper, you heal faster, exact same results, and it is approved by military. Dont worry about people who dramatize about flaps becoming undone, that happens very rarely and usually because of a shitty doctor or you did not follow through on post op procedures. It is on you to find a great doctor to perform the surgery. I found one of the best in Arizona and had no history of anything dramatic happening with his patients and was rated one of the top eye surgeons. Also the guy was cool and I felt good vibes form him. For SNA you need the 20/20 and MEPS is not going to have you squint. Stop wasting your time in hoping you can exercise your eye muscle or worrying about over correction. The machines used are so sophisticated you wont have to worry about it. It is worth the money. Go see an eye doctor first to give you the low down and do all the pre work (measure how thick your corneas are, your current eye sight, along with other measurements, health of your eye). He can explain everything to you and give you an honest assessment.

I did get the pre op twice, what happened between the first and second time I don't know. I was wearing contacts prior to this surgery talk. My initial measurements were within spec, but when I came back my dr. had noticed some changes in some numbers which put me out of "spec" that she is expecting. She is a very conservative surgeon, TLC is the eye center I went to. The possible problem I might experience after the surgery, no set exact time frame, is my corneas might change. And his happens sometimes. So if it did change, restoring back to 20/20 would require a lot more work. Not this is just a number that came up below her average. I will seek second opinion and re-check in a month to see if it progresses being worse or it was not my day that time.

 

[chrispytreats]

I know this thread is 4 years old from the last post but I'd like to ask a question.
Is the OCS flight physical the same as you do at NAMI? I'm asking if they do the same exact eye exams, same color vision test, etc?

 

[flgator92]

This thread is years old, but with respect to the flight physicals at OCS, does anyone know if they make you do the duck walk, stretching and the anal exam like at MEPS? Those are typically seen as the worst parts of MEPS -- although not that bad-- just curious I suppose.

 

[Meyerkord]

This thread is years old, but with respect to the flight physicals at OCS, does anyone know if they make you do the duck walk, stretching and the anal exam like at MEPS? Those are typically seen as the worst parts of MEPS -- although not that bad-- just curious I suppose.

There is no duck walk at OCS, but you can still expect the ol’ bend and spread. It takes literally 2 seconds though.

 

[srp_4737]

I know this is old, but it is relevant to the thread title. Do they ask about your family medical history at the OCS flight physical or MEPS? I lost my father to a sudden heart attack in 2014... turned out he had a heart condition for years that no one knew about. I am healthy (to my knowledge) and physically fit but am wondering if this has ever been an issue for people? Anyone have a family history of heart disease and saw problems in the process?

Thanks in advance!