vision requirement for SNA confirmed

[MIDNJAC]

Since I asked the question, I figured that I would follow up w/ the answer I got this morning from the flight doc about contact lenses for SNA. According to him, its all good during flight school IF:

1) You pay for the contacts out of pocket
2) You take them down to branch medical, and take an eye exam with them to make sure they are giving you the proper correction. From there they will give you a chit that says you can use them in place of the foggles.

Later on when you are winged, he said the govt will pick up the expense, especially if you are flying a platform that uses NVG's. So just a heads up for anyone who cares. Oh yeah, and I passed the NAMI Whammy

 

[nugget61]

This seemed like a good place for my question:
I'm considering the PRK option, however the doc that was recommended to me does ASA (advanced surface ablation). In the guide PRK and ASA are in the same paragraph - does that mean that wherever it says PRK I can substitute ASA?
I'm fairly certain its ok to get ASA, but I don't want to DQ myself. If it is ok, want to make sure that its ok for applicants (not just winged) as well. Does anyone out there have a waiver for ASA?
While on the note of the waiver, I was under the impression that if you meet the pre- and post-op criteria that the waiver was pretty much a given, but my recruiter has me scared into thinking that they are hard to get - anyone confirm/deny?

 

[jmh0462]

The officer prgram recruiter I was talking with about BDCP told me that LASEK (not to be confused with LASIK) is an option for eye correction. Is this true?

 

[nugget61]

The officer prgram recruiter I was talking with about BDCP told me that LASEK (not to be confused with LASIK) is an option for eye correction. Is this true?

Yes - LASEK=PRK and may also be called ASA. I just had PRK done and you might find some useful info in my thread: http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=145609&page=1 Feel free to ask questions there too

 

[Afterburner209]

Hey I was wondering if you get selected for BDCP SNA and want to have PRK to avoid any chance of problems later on, can you? Specifically I mean can I get the surgery after being final select and sworn in.

I apologize if this has already been answered, I skimmed the post and didn't find what I was looking for.

 

[nugget61]

Hey I was wondering if you get selected for BDCP SNA and want to have PRK to avoid any chance of problems later on, can you? Specifically I mean can I get the surgery after being final select and sworn in.

I apologize if this has already been answered, I skimmed the post and didn't find what I was looking for.

You can before the FS, but I was told that you cannot after the FS. Just what my OR said, so YMMV.

 

[Afterburner209]

Thanks, i'll double check with my OR, figured i'd take a shot on here first.

 

[nugget61]

Thanks, i'll double check with my OR, figured i'd take a shot on here first.

You have to pass MEPS to get the FS, so if you're 20/40 or better then I'd take the FS, wait on the PRK and let the Navy pay for it after you're out of OCS.

 

[Afterburner209]

I got 20/30 at MEPS and just waiting on final select now. I just know even though I made it through MEPS the flight physicals usually what make pilots more nervous.

 

[nugget61]

I got 20/30 at MEPS and just waiting on final select now. I just know even though I made it through MEPS the flight physicals usually what make pilots more nervous.

As long as you're 20/30 each eye by itself (combined doesn't matter) then don't sweat it, get the PRK later on. I was 20/40 combined and thought I would be OK but found out otherwise. Just don't get yourself locked into something that you don't want.

 

[BACONATOR]

I got 20/30 at MEPS and just waiting on final select now. I just know even though I made it through MEPS the flight physicals usually what make pilots more nervous.

I went through the same thing you did and I was BDCP, only I had 20/40 at MEPS over a year before I was to head to OCS. I'll tell you now what people told me then: STFU and quit worrying. No doc would operate on 20/30 anyway.

I still had 20/40 (the absolute worst you can see and keep SNA as an applicant) at NAMI when I went through OCS a year and a half ago, and I'll be winging in like a month. You will be fine.

 

[Afterburner209]

Thanks thats exactly what I was hoping to hear. AW comes through again.

 

[knewman]

SNA Vision Requirements

I am final select for pilot BDCP and supposedly PQ but I would appreciate some clarification. My results from MEPS showed 20/25 for near vision in both eyes and 20/70 : 20/100 for distance vision, all correctable to 20/20. I had a personal eye exam to verify and the results were 20/100 in each eye. I believe the standard is 20/40 for SNA, so does this only apply to near distance? I am certainly not complaining that I was PQ'd for pilot, I am just wondering why.

 

[BACONATOR]

I am final select for pilot BDCP and supposedly PQ but I would appreciate some clarification. My results from MEPS showed 20/25 for near vision in both eyes and 20/70 : 20/100 for distance vision, all correctable to 20/20. I had a personal eye exam to verify and the results were 20/100 in each eye. I believe the standard is 20/40 for SNA, so does this only apply to near distance? I am certainly not complaining that I was PQ'd for pilot, I am just wondering why.

Unfortunately people DO slip through the cracks. This will NOT happen at NAMI (or I guess up at Newport when you do a real flight physical). I'd contact your recruiter to find out the skinny because if you truly are seeing 20/100 in either ONE or BOTH of your eyes, you WILL be NPQ at OCS and forced to redesignate. Not a matter of IF, but WHEN.

 

[knewman]

Unfortunately people DO slip through the cracks. This will NOT happen at NAMI (or I guess up at Newport when you do a real flight physical). I'd contact your recruiter to find out the skinny because if you truly are seeing 20/100 in either ONE or BOTH of your eyes, you WILL be NPQ at OCS and forced to redesignate. Not a matter of IF, but WHEN.

Thats exactly what I'm afraid of. This line is part of a statement from the medical advisor of recruiting command...

"Code 00M defers to NOMI (BUMED-M3F8) for suitability for service in aviation programs"

...does anyone know what it means?