Can I join the Navy with astigmatism?

[Clifford09]

I have astigmatism in both of my eyes and I just want to know if I can join the Navy with astigmatism?

 

[armada1651]

Sure, you can join, but astigmatism may affect how successful PRK can be on your eyes. How bad are we talking?

 

[SDNalgene]

I have a very slight astigmatism. I fly without any sort of correction and did not need a waiver. Your experience may vary, but if your astigmatism is correctable then you are probably good to go. I am definitely not an authoritative source on that so search around the site for information on the vision requirements or just look up the standards on the NOMI website. Good luck.

 

[Clifford09]

I'm not entirely sure of how bad it is. I have another check-up in about 2 weeks. But the Navy recruiter was actually just at my house, and I was discussing with him and he wasn't sure if I could even join with astigmatism. I was just getting a little upset, you know I didn't want something like astigmatism holding me back from serving my country. I'm hoping that when I join I can get it corrected. My doctor told me 6 months ago that it was correctable. So hopefully it is still correctable.

 

[armada1651]

Some astigmatism is extremely common and definitely not necessarily disqualifying. My eyes were terrible with a moderate astigmatism pre-PRK. The surgery got me to about 20/15 and only slight astigmatism, but I had no problem in getting OK'd by BUMED or NOMI.

 

[BACONATOR]

I fly with astigmatism, so the short answer to your question is yes. As long as it is within limits (up to 1.0 cylinder)

 

[Clifford09]

Is it + and - 1.50?

 

[IKE]

From the 13 March 2007 U.S. Navy Aeromedical Reference and Waiver Guide (located here):
(MODS: perhaps a link to that document should be in a FAQ - if it isn't already)

1.6 STUDENT NAVAL AVIATOR APPLICANT (SNA) STANDARDS
All applicants for pilot training must meet Class I standards except as follows:
Visual Acuity, Distant and Near:
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Uncorrected visual acuity must not be less than 20/40 each eye, correctable to 20/20 each eye using a [/FONT]Goodlite [FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]eye chart. Vision testing procedures shall comply with those outlined on the Aerospace Reference and Waiver Guide Physical Exams section. [/FONT]​

Refractive Limits:

[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]If uncorrected distant visual acuity is less than 20/20 either eye, a manifest refraction must be recorded for the correction required to attain 20/20. If the candidate’s distant visual acuity is 20/20, a manifest refraction is not required. Total myopia may not be greater than -1.50 diopters in any meridian, total hyperopia no greater than +3.00 diopters in any meridian, or astigmatism no greater than -1.00 diopters. The astigmatic correction shall be reported in minus cylinder format. [/FONT]​

Cycloplegic Refraction: ​

[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]This is required for all candidates to determine the degree of spherical ametropia. The refraction should be performed to maximum plus correction to obtain best visual acuity. Due to the effect of lens aberrations with pupil dilation, visual acuity or astigmatic correction, which might disqualify the candidate, should be disregarded if the candidate meets the standards for visual acuity and astigmatism with manifest refraction. A cycloplegic refraction should be performed at least 30 minutes after instillation of 2gtts (5 minutes apart) 1% cyclopentolate. [/FONT]

Slit Lamp Examination:
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Required, and must demonstrate no pathology. [/FONT]

Dilated Fundus Examination: ​

[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]Required, and must demonstrate no pathology. [/FONT]