Hey, there are a few of these on AW already, however I feel that there can’t be enough info out there for folks looking to go under the laser – so here’s a log of my experience. I’m trying to write this from a complete beginner’s standpoint, so please overlook the explanations if they are unnecessary for you.
**Disclaimer – I’m not a doc, so take this as you may. And stuff changes over time, so this could become outdated in the future. Also note that since I have just undergone the surgery (20NOV2008); I DO NOT yet have a waiver. **
**Note: If you have questions, feel free to PM me with them, but if you can, keep them in this thread so that anyone can benefit from it. If I left something out that you want to know about, just tell me and I’ll add it in a later post**
Background Info:
I was professionally recommended (pro-rec’ed) in the Oct 08 boards, and went to medical (MEPS) afterwards. I was been tested at 20/40 distance only to find out that you can’t squint when you take the test. They passed me, but I knew that I would be not physically qualified (NPQ) when I went to get my flight physical at NAMI. The OR was trying to push me to take an naval flight officer (NFO, backseater) position, although I only applied for pilot (SNA). From what I understand, getting a lateral transfer from one position to another is really difficult, so it’s best to join the Navy with a ticket to do what you want to begin with.
Knowing this, I decided to go out and get a consult from an eye doc. I found out at that point that I was 20/70R and 20/100L, (-1.25 each) however I was only 20/50 with both. Because the waiver guide says that you have to be 20/40 uncorrected (no glasses/contacts/anything), with correction to 20/20 (glasses, contacts, PRK), I knew that I couldn’t pass a flight physical.
As I understand it, you cannot get PRK once you have signed a final select letter, as you belong to the Navy at that point. And there’s not typically enough time from the completion of OCS to the time that you get a flight physical to get it done then (and have the Nay pay for it), so I had to get it done now. If it takes, it’ll be well worth the price to me.
With regards to my pro-rec, I have heard of people that were able to hold onto their pro-rec during the healing period, and those that lost it and had to re-apply. My OR is under the impression that I will lose it. If that’s the case, so be it, I can reapply. Losing 3 months now is way better than a few years before I could transfer jobs.
**Disclaimer – I’m not a doc, so take this as you may. And stuff changes over time, so this could become outdated in the future. Also note that since I have just undergone the surgery (20NOV2008); I DO NOT yet have a waiver. **
**Note: If you have questions, feel free to PM me with them, but if you can, keep them in this thread so that anyone can benefit from it. If I left something out that you want to know about, just tell me and I’ll add it in a later post**
Background Info:
I was professionally recommended (pro-rec’ed) in the Oct 08 boards, and went to medical (MEPS) afterwards. I was been tested at 20/40 distance only to find out that you can’t squint when you take the test. They passed me, but I knew that I would be not physically qualified (NPQ) when I went to get my flight physical at NAMI. The OR was trying to push me to take an naval flight officer (NFO, backseater) position, although I only applied for pilot (SNA). From what I understand, getting a lateral transfer from one position to another is really difficult, so it’s best to join the Navy with a ticket to do what you want to begin with.
Knowing this, I decided to go out and get a consult from an eye doc. I found out at that point that I was 20/70R and 20/100L, (-1.25 each) however I was only 20/50 with both. Because the waiver guide says that you have to be 20/40 uncorrected (no glasses/contacts/anything), with correction to 20/20 (glasses, contacts, PRK), I knew that I couldn’t pass a flight physical.
As I understand it, you cannot get PRK once you have signed a final select letter, as you belong to the Navy at that point. And there’s not typically enough time from the completion of OCS to the time that you get a flight physical to get it done then (and have the Nay pay for it), so I had to get it done now. If it takes, it’ll be well worth the price to me.
With regards to my pro-rec, I have heard of people that were able to hold onto their pro-rec during the healing period, and those that lost it and had to re-apply. My OR is under the impression that I will lose it. If that’s the case, so be it, I can reapply. Losing 3 months now is way better than a few years before I could transfer jobs.