vision requirement for SNA confirmed

[DSL1990]

Bottom line. to FLY, you need 20/40 or better UNcorrected. Whether this be natural, or waivered through an appropriate PRK procedure, this is the requirement. You must also correct to 20/20 if you are worse than 20/20.

Let's say you get PRK and you after your recovery from surgery, you are 20/20 or better. But then time passes and your eye sight worsens to 20/40 before SNA selection. You could correct this with glasses back to 20/20. Would this still be ok from the NOMI perspective even though you had been waivered for the surgery?

 

[UMichfly]

You have to be better than 20/40 to be an SNA period. If your vision degrades after surgery to worse than 20/40, you won't qualify for SNA just because your glasses will fix you. I have known more than a few people who got PRK and were worse than 20/40 by the time they got to NAMI and are now NFOs.

 

[Air Squire]

How quickly does PRK deteriorate? I am gearing up towards the BDCP and worry that my vision won't cut it. I was perscribed glasses for 20/30 vision a year ago, and was told I have a very slight stigmatism. I go through MEPs in a couple weeks, and will find out for sure where my eyes are at. I'll save up and get the PRK if push comes to shove, but I'm at least 3-4 years out from even API (assuming I get SNA, I still worry about my stigmatism getting worse in time).

Should I get PRK now? Or later?

 

[BACONATOR]

Look. You can be 20/40 and fly. I DID IT. The second you walk into building 633 for API, your vision can go to 20/100 and you are still SNA. It can go to 20/400 but it will restrict your duties as a Naval Aviator. CALM DOWN. If you are 20/40, stfu and get your flight physical. If you are <20/40 go get PRK, or go NFO. It's not complicated. APPLICANTS are required to 20/40. DESIGNATED SNA/NA are required to have 20/100 (ie, the second you are assigned to NASC).

 

[UMichfly]

DESIGNATED SNA/NA are required to have 20/100 (ie, the second you make it past your NAMI flight physical after you are assigned to NASC).

Fixed that for you

 

[BACONATOR]

Fixed that for you

Good catch. I was NAMI complete (OCS) when I got to NASC. Once you PASS the flight phys at API, you can be 20/100...

 

[Air Squire]

Good catch. I was NAMI complete (OCS) when I got to NASC. Once you PASS the flight phys at API, you can be 20/100...

Right, and the flight physical at API is still a good 4 years away for me. Assuming I pass MEPs vision check in a couple weeks, and get selected SNA for the BDCP ("the scam that keeps on giving"), I still have a very decent amount of time before that API physical. My real question is geared towards someone with a high knowledge in the physiology of the eyes. How quickly will my vision deteriorate between my MEPs vision check and the "final" check at API?

UMichfly said he knew a few people who'd gotten the PRK done but ended up being <20/40 by the time they got to NAMI. I'm wondering how quickly that happens. How much time passed for these guys before they got to NAMI...

I'm not really stressed about this. Being a Naval Officer is my aspiration. Flying is fun, so I'm giving my best shot to SNA.

Thx for the feedback.

 

[UMichfly]

The guys who I know whose vision degraded after PRK and before they got down here both were between 1 and 2 years post-op when they got NAMI whammied. That being said, there have been a LOT more people who I've known who are quite a few years post-op and still have amazing (better than 20/20) vision. This is one of those things that you can't worry about because you can't change it. Take care of yourself, stay hydrated, get your eyes checked every year to know what your vision is. If it gets worse than 20/40 for some reason and you've still got time, go get a touch up done. Otherwise, keep pressing.

 

[Jeff29]

Let's say you get PRK and you after your recovery from surgery, you are 20/20 or better. But then time passes and your eye sight worsens to 20/40 before SNA selection. You could correct this with glasses back to 20/20. Would this still be ok from the NOMI perspective even though you had been waivered for the surgery?

Vision requirements are different for people who have had PRK. The NOMI waiver guide says:

"Visual Acuity - each eye with or without corrective lenses must be:
a. Class I - 20/20-0/10 letters"

This means you must be able to read all 10 letters on the 20/20 line without corrective lenses. This is to get the initial waiver; once you have the waiver, I think normal requirements are used. The current aeromedical guide says 20/100 correctable to 20/20 is acceptable (I couldn't find any reference to 20/40).

 

[wink]

Vision requirements are different for people who have had PRK. The NOMI waiver guide says:

"Visual Acuity - each eye with or without corrective lenses must be:
a. Class I - 20/20-0/10 letters"

This means you must be able to read all 10 letters on the 20/20 line without corrective lenses. This is to get the initial waiver; once you have the waiver, I think normal requirements are used. The current aeromedical guide says 20/100 correctable to 20/20 is acceptable (I couldn't find any reference to 20/40).

The 20/40 is for accession. In other words, it is an OCS/ROTC/USNA thing. Back in the day you had to maintain the entrance requirement through your training to designation (winging). Then the 20/100, 20/whatever applied as your eyes changed over your career. Now some guys in this thread have said that the 20/100 limit applies once you get through your initial physical. That is news to me, but I'm old.

 

[Jeff29]

The 20/40 is for accession. In other words, it is an OCS/ROTC/USNA thing.

That's what I thought, I just couldn't find any reference to it.

 

[Jeff29]

Vision requirements are different for people who have had PRK. The NOMI waiver guide says:

"Visual Acuity - each eye with or without corrective lenses must be:
a. Class I - 20/20-0/10 letters"

This means you must be able to read all 10 letters on the 20/20 line without corrective lenses. This is to get the initial waiver; once you have the waiver, I think normal requirements are used. The current aeromedical guide says 20/100 correctable to 20/20 is acceptable (I couldn't find any reference to 20/40).

A few weeks ago somone pointed out to me that I was wrong on this. I thought that I should probably correct myself.

The waiver guide says:
"Visual Acuity - each eye with or without corrective lenses must be:
a. Class I - 20/20-0/10 letters"

My understanding is that this simply means that you have to meet the normal requirements for new accessions which is 20/40 correctable to 20/20 (Previously, I had misread the policy and thought that PRK waiver applicants had to be 20/20 uncorrected - apparently, this is not the case). The waiver guide goes on to say that to remain SG1 you have to be 20/100 correctable to 20/20, but I am not sure when this change takes affect. After application and acceptance, or after initial flight physical with NAMI, or after wings. Anyone have a reference on this?

 

[BACONATOR]

A few weeks ago somone pointed out to me that I was wrong on this. I thought that I should probably correct myself.

The waiver guide says:
"Visual Acuity - each eye with or without corrective lenses must be:
a. Class I - 20/20-0/10 letters"

My understanding is that this simply means that you have to meet the normal requirements for new accessions which is 20/40 correctable to 20/20 (Previously, I had misread the policy and thought that PRK waiver applicants had to be 20/20 uncorrected - apparently, this is not the case). The waiver guide goes on to say that to remain SG1 you have to be 20/100 correctable to 20/20, but I am not sure when this change takes affect. After application and acceptance, or after initial flight physical with NAMI, or after wings. Anyone have a reference on this?

I've answered this question elsewhere. Your vision may deteriorate to 20/100 when you are designated a SNA. This happens when you are assigned to schools command after your flight physical. As soon as you walk out of NAMI for the first time, your vision requirement changes.

 

[Jeff29]

I've answered this question elsewhere. Your vision may deteriorate to 20/100 when you are designated a SNA. This happens when you are assigned to schools command after your flight physical. As soon as you walk out of NAMI for the first time, your vision requirement changes.

Thanks. I just actually went back and checked the waiver guide, and it does make the distinction between SNA applicant and SNA. It doesn't indicate when the change from SNA Applicant to SNA occurs. I would think that this happens when you commissioned or otherwise obtain the SNA designator (which is before the NAMI physical). Do you have any reference that indicates that this change ocurrs after your initial NAMI physical? (I assume you mean the NAMI physical just before you start API)

None of this actually applies to me as I am long past this point. Just curious.

 

[Gatordev]

Thanks. I just actually went back and checked the waiver guide, and it does make the distinction between SNA applicant and SNA. It doesn't indicate when the change from SNA Applicant to SNA occurs. I would think that this happens when you commissioned or otherwise obtain the SNA designator (which is before the NAMI physical). Do you have any reference that indicates that this change ocurrs after your initial NAMI physical? (I assume you mean the NAMI physical just before you start API)

None of this actually applies to me as I am long past this point. Just curious.

Bogey has it right. You are no longer an applicant after your physical right before API. Some people's pre-API physical is more "involved" then others, but once you walk out the door w/ an up-chit FROM NAMI, you're considered a SNA (medically).

I can't site a reference other than my own, long, painful experience (as well as others).