The Eyes have it - All things Vision-related

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Ahh I see
I will get a consultation from the US as well.
I am concerned about the Price differences.

Tracking the cost savings piece and I’m sure the “quality” of the surgery would be similar to the US, but I worry about the medical records piece and how India/the LASIK place documents everything might not be in English or have the same vital pieces of info a US-based specialist. Also concur with what @exNavyOffRec said.

I wouldn’t risk saving a few bucks for potential risks and ramifications down the road.

 

[ShopTalker]

I'm reviewing the NAMI waiver guide, and it looks like I'm disqualified for SNA. Or possibly need a waiver? Bit of a shock since I passed the Class IA physical for Air Force pilots, and my AF optometrists have denied me corrective surgery for years at this point since my eyes aren't "bad enough."

Uncorrected my left eye is 20/50 and right is 20/25. My left eye astigmatism reads -1.25 and my right is -1.00.

What does the waiver process look like, and when would I seek one? Before applying for the next board? After OCS and during the NAMI physical?

 

[ShopTalker]

Spoke to my recruiter about it this morning and he didn't know either way about a waiver. He suggests corrective surgery. We'll see what the AF says next week...

 

[Mouselovr]

Spoke to my recruiter about it this morning and he didn't know either way about a waiver. He suggests corrective surgery. We'll see what the AF says next week...

AF eye standards are different than Navy. Off-hand I know the Navy is more lax with color blindness than AF, but we are significantly more strict with minimum eye standards.

You will not be eligible for a waiver if your eyesight is worse than 20/40 uncorrected as an SNA.
If you want to fly Navy, get the eye test redone then consider corrective surgery.
If you get corrective surgery, you'll need to wait 6 months before returning to MEPS to qualify as pilot to apply to the board....

After that, its a cake walk with NAMI onward. Surgery does require a waiver but its a formality...

See p. 26 for vision requirements and p.248 for PRK/LASIK waiver requirements

https://www.med.navy.mil/Portals/62/Documents/NMFSC/NMOTC/NAMI/ARWG/Waiver%20Guide/AWRG%20COMPLETE_231227.pdf

 

[Empire16]

Anyone else got any stories about people with early/keratoconus and being retained? Just want some hope that I will be able to do something in the USN

 

[ShopTalker]

AF eye standards are different than Navy. Off-hand I know the Navy is more lax with color blindness than AF, but we are significantly more strict with minimum eye standards.

You will not be eligible for a waiver if your eyesight is worse than 20/40 uncorrected as an SNA.
If you want to fly Navy, get the eye test redone then consider corrective surgery.
If you get corrective surgery, you'll need to wait 6 months before returning to MEPS to qualify as pilot to apply to the board....

After that, its a cake walk with NAMI onward. Surgery does require a waiver but its a formality...

See p. 26 for vision requirements and p.248 for PRK/LASIK waiver requirements

https://www.med.navy.mil/Portals/62/Documents/NMFSC/NMOTC/NAMI/ARWG/Waiver%20Guide/AWRG%20COMPLETE_231227.pdf

Corrective is the plan! Thankfully the AF has a procedure to allow a civilian facility to perform the surgery on service members if the base optometrist declines me.

Just gonna cost some dough.

 

[Andre12]

As a Marine pilot candidate, I have completed and passed the NAMI pilot medical the Marines require to continue the pilot application process, but still have to attend OCS and TBS. I wouldn't start pilot training for maybe 18 months. I had uncorrected 20/30 vision at that first NAMI medical. If my uncorrected vision deteriorates to 20/50 for the medical just before starting pilot training, do I revert to the uncorrected 20/100 limit since I'd no longer be an "applicant", or would I be held to the 20/40 "applicant" limit?

(Referencing Aviation Physical Standards - Revised Oct 2024)

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

As a Marine pilot candidate, I have completed and passed the NAMI pilot medical the Marines require to continue the pilot application process, but still have to attend OCS and TBS. I wouldn't start pilot training for maybe 18 months. I had uncorrected 20/30 vision at that first NAMI medical. If my uncorrected vision deteriorates to 20/50 for the medical just before starting pilot training, do I revert to the uncorrected 20/100 limit since I'd no longer be an "applicant", or would I be held to the 20/40 "applicant" limit?

(Referencing Aviation Physical Standards - Revised Oct 2024)

Do you really feel your vision is going to get that bad over a short period of time?

 

[Andre12]

I don't know. I always thought they were really solid. Even after avoiding the NAMI whammy, surprised I was 20/30. I don't know how fast is typical for it to change.

 

[Gatordev]

As a Marine pilot candidate, I have completed and passed the NAMI pilot medical the Marines require to continue the pilot application process, but still have to attend OCS and TBS. I wouldn't start pilot training for maybe 18 months. I had uncorrected 20/30 vision at that first NAMI medical. If my uncorrected vision deteriorates to 20/50 for the medical just before starting pilot training, do I revert to the uncorrected 20/100 limit since I'd no longer be an "applicant", or would I be held to the 20/40 "applicant" limit?

(Referencing Aviation Physical Standards - Revised Oct 2024)

No. You're still an applicant until you show up to MATSG/NIFE, at least as far as NAMI is concerned.

Unless you're seeing some sort of specific degeneration over the course of a short time, then your eyes should be fairly stable for a while. Just plan on getting glasses issued when you show up to MATSG.

 

[Andre12]

Sorry, but I don't get it. Isn't the next time I would go to Pensacola, after OCS and TBS, showing up to MATSG, so no longer an "applicant"?
Probably no reason to worry I guess if eyes don't change much even after 18 months.

 

[Gatordev]

Sorry, but I don't get it. Isn't the next time I would go to Pensacola, after OCS and TBS, showing up to MATSG, so no longer an "applicant"?

Not in the eyes of NAMI. They haven't put any real money into you yet, so there's one more opportunity to screen you out before you start.

 

[Jeiskymeisky]

Hello everyone, what's an exam I can take that will be closest to the actual vision test at the flight physical? I've read a lasik consultation, meps, civilian doctor.

 

[joetting21]

Hello everyone, what's an exam I can take that will be closest to the actual vision test at the flight physical? I've read a lasik consultation, meps, civilian doctor.

If you go in the NAMI guide, it tells you everything you will be subject to for your flight physical. Recommend printing that out and bringing it with you when you make an appointment with an eye dr so you can ensure they do all the same tests

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

If you go in the NAMI guide, it tells you everything you will be subject to for your flight physical. Recommend printing that out and bringing it with you when you make an appointment with an eye dr so you can ensure they do all the same tests

Second this. Normal eye doctor will understand the language.