Visual Acuity and Refraction Tests at OCS (for those with glasses)

[Foxtrot20]

I normally wear glasses, and the threads that came up in search usually pertained to prospective SNAs, not NFOs. The OTC website lists that "You will be issued a government pair of glasses for the first 9 weeks, and then you will be allowed to wear your civilian glasses.", but does not specify when exactly you receive them. For anyone that has recently gone through OCS, I hope you can answer my questions.

1. What do they use/favor when measuring your refraction? Autorefractor, retinoscope, phoropter? 2. How close was the refraction to your civilian measurement?
3. Is it helpful to bring a note from your civ optometrist stating your prescription, in case the numbers are different?
4. When you do the visual acuity (20/20) test, do you use your civilian glasses, or with whatever glasses are fashioned for you by the Navy?

Thank you in advance for taking the time to look these through.

 

[Renegade One]

...

Might want to try a re-post in the "Doc's Corner" Forum. Sounds a bit technical for the average "bro" to answer, but maybe not...
As a "goggle-man" myself, I'd sure bring whatever paperwork you think would advantage you, especially if you have something non-standard.

 

[jbweldon04]

I'm an enlisted member, so what I say might be of no relevance, but in Boot Camp if you saw 20/20 with whatever glasses you came in with, they got the prescription from those glasses and just made you a pair off that prescription. If you bring your own prescription, I see no reason why Medically they wouldn't use that. It's more accurate than what might have actually been made for the glasses you do wear.

Legally you aren't allowed to fill a prescription off of an autorefraction in the United States, but that doesn't stop them at Boot Camp for enlisted sailors.