OCS, MEPS and vision.

[FLGUY]

Hello there everyone!

I am a long time lurker, first time poster to AirWarriors. I am an OCS applicant who has just started my application with my OR, and will be graduating in December 2015. I have a few questions for anybody who is willing to give their two cents:

My vision is good, and within the 20/40 correctable to 20/20 range, however I have heard many horror stories of people going to OCS and receiving the "NAMI-Whammy" for vision. I do not want to jeopardize anything. Will I gain anything by getting PRK and increasing my uncorrected vision if I am already in the acceptable range? If I do so, then I will be pushing my application back 6 months. How does the PRK process work with MEPS, and can I go to MEPS while under the 6 month wait? I know that there is an upcoming board in May-ish, so i'm shooting for that as of right now, but if I got the surgery, Could I rely on a October/November/December-ish board to fall back on if I had to wait 6 months, or are there no regular board dates?

Any insight is appreciated!

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

I believe LASIK is the preferred corrective eye surgery for the Navy now, not PRK. Even so, I say it's a waste of money to try to correct your vision when it's already within standards. First thing is that you can risk any sort of damage that might come from the surgery (even though LASIK is fairly safe there's always that possibility). Second, there's been folks who have been 20/20 and still NAMI-whammy'd for other circumstances besides sight/vision.

 

[FLGUY]

First thing is that you can risk any sort of damage that might come from the surgery (even though LASIK is fairly safe there's always that possibility). Second, there's been folks who have been 20/20 and still NAMI-whammy'd for other circumstances besides sight/vision.

Much appreciated. Thank you!

 

[Piposterous]

Hello there everyone!

I am a long time lurker, first time poster to AirWarriors. I am an OCS applicant who has just started my application with my OR, and will be graduating in December 2015. I have a few questions for anybody who is willing to give their two cents:

My vision is good, and within the 20/40 correctable to 20/20 range, however I have heard many horror stories of people going to OCS and receiving the "NAMI-Whammy" for vision. I do not want to jeopardize anything. Will I gain anything by getting PRK and increasing my uncorrected vision if I am already in the acceptable range? If I do so, then I will be pushing my application back 6 months. How does the PRK process work with MEPS, and can I go to MEPS while under the 6 month wait? I know that there is an upcoming board in May-ish, so i'm shooting for that as of right now, but if I got the surgery, Could I rely on a October/November/December-ish board to fall back on if I had to wait 6 months, or are there no regular board dates?

Any insight is appreciated!

To answer your question regarding the wait, you WILL have to wait 6 months from the date you receive any type of eye corrective surgery. The Navy will refrain from doing any type of medical screening until after the wait is over. I know this because I got LASIK back on August 20th and I have been trying to go to MEPS but my recruiter has told me that he isn't even allowed to submit my medical documents until February 20th rolls around (thankfully it's finally right around the corner!!)

 

[d_r]

I believe LASIK is the preferred corrective eye surgery for the Navy now, not PRK. Even so, I say it's a waste of money to try to correct your vision when it's already within standards. First thing is that you can risk any sort of damage that might come from the surgery (even though LASIK is fairly safe there's always that possibility). Second, there's been folks who have been 20/20 and still NAMI-whammy'd for other circumstances besides sight/vision.

Just out of curiosity, do you know why LASIK is preferred over PRK? Before getting PRK done myself, my doc told me of complications involving the flap coming "unglued" years after LASIK surgery. Figured PRK would be more desirable since no flap is made.