The Eyes have it - All things Vision-related

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Hi,

There was a Navy Captain who did my physical at MEPS. He commented that my uncorrected vision was poor, and that I was ineligible for SNA specifically. He asked me to tell my recruiter and double check the requirements since it's been a while since he's looked at them and sent me off.

I then went to the Ophthalmology guide from NAMI on med.navy.mil and it says for SNA I must be no more than -1.5 for myopia power, astigmatism more than 1.0, and uncorrected better than 20/40.

This is when I told the recruiter I dont meet these standards, (and at this time MEPS was processing my application due to a couple waivers I was asked to submit). A week later, I was told good news that I've been medically cleared to apply for SNA. So it looks like I was cleared on the basis of those waivers, but they were not for anything ophthalmology related.

Have your recruiter go over the MEPS paperwork, particularly your eye exam results. Could be the CAPT isn't fully aware of vision requirements or oversight on Navy Recruiting Command, or somewhere in between.

 

[wrong1]

I went to MEPS last month and was disqualified for astigmatism in one of my eyes. I ended up getting a waiver for it, but since I’m applying for SNA (Student Naval Aviator), I wanted to get a clearer picture of my vision.

I don’t have the exact numbers from MEPS, but I followed up with a civilian optometrist. They measured my astigmatism at 1.50 D in my left eye and 1.75 D in my right, which is over NAMI’s limit for SNA (which is 1.00 D max, both cycloplegic and manifest).

I got LASIK consultations, from 2 different doctors but they wouldn’t perform the surgery because I don’t have a prior eye exam on file from within the last year to show that my eye’s stable.

I’ve heard of some people getting disqualified for astigmatisms, and others getting cleared with glasses. I’d really appreciate any help or guidance.

 

[ea6bflyr]

I went to MEPS last month and was disqualified for astigmatism in one of my eyes. I ended up getting a waiver for it, but since I’m applying for SNA (Student Naval Aviator), I wanted to get a clearer picture of my vision.

I don’t have the exact numbers from MEPS, but I followed up with a civilian optometrist. They measured my astigmatism at 1.50 D in my left eye and 1.75 D in my right, which is over NAMI’s limit for SNA (which is 1.00 D max, both cycloplegic and manifest).

I got LASIK consultations, from 2 different doctors but they wouldn’t perform the surgery because I don’t have a prior eye exam on file from within the last year to show that my eye’s stable.

I’ve heard of some people getting disqualified for astigmatisms, and others getting cleared with glasses. I’d really appreciate any help or guidance.

Hopefully you've read through the Aeromedical Reference and Waiver Guide for SNA. Astigmatism greater than 1.0 is disqualifying for SNA.

My advice is to take the Waiver Guide to your optometrist so they are 100% familiar with the US Navy standards.

As far as eye surgery, age has everything to do with how stable your eyes are....Your eyes change until you are 20-21 years old. You must ensure your eyes are stable before getting eye surgery. It would be risky to get eye surgery prior to your eyes being stable, then to get to Pensacola and get whammy'd by NAMI due to eyesight changes.

 

[RealFlash]

I barely passed the eye exam at MEPS with -7.75 and -8.0. If I fail eye exam at OCS (like -8.25), would I get a wavier or be sent home? I am applying for CW and Supply.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

I barely passed the eye exam at MEPS with -7.75 and -8.0. If I fail eye exam at OCS (like -8.25), would I get a wavier or be sent home? I am applying for CW and Supply.

Or what if you simply pass again at OCS?

 

[ea6bflyr]

I barely passed the eye exam at MEPS with -7.75 and -8.0. If I fail eye exam at OCS (like -8.25), would I get a wavier or be sent home? I am applying for CW and Supply.

I wouldn’t concern yourself with the “what ifs”. Focus on the task at hand.