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Post-PRK astigmatism, Autorefractor vs. Eye Doc...

Planeform

Well-Known Member
pilot
Hey guys...quick question. I got PRK 8 months ago, got corrected to 20/20 but probably more like 20/25 due to some astigmatism I've got, but; within the regs of 20/40 for my SNA slot I am going to OCS for in December.

I've noticed some distortion in my vision for the last few months, or ever since healing really that is attributed to astigmatism from PRK. Today, I went to my eye-doc for a check up and to see if I could get a correction for the astigmatism. While slight, my vision could be crisper, so I thought I'd see what correction, if any, could be made. The autorefractor came up with no acuity correction in my right eye, -.25 in my left and astigmatism correction in my left eye of -1.25 @175deg and -.75 @ 5 deg in my right. This could be an issue because the cut-off for SNA for astigmatism is -1.00 in any direction.

BUT, the doc then assessed my vision and corrected with the phoropter (the thing they put over your eyes to give you a prescription and give you a correction while looking at an eye chart). The astigmatism correction he came up with was -.50 @ 3deg in my right and -.75 @ 179deg in my left. His assessment puts me well with in the specs to be a Naval Aviator.

Should I be concerned with being given the "NAMI Whammy" due to my auto-refractor astigmatism that is out of spec or does the prescription the doc manually comes up with count and therefore I not worry? I would think the doc's actual assessment will override the autorefractor but I am unsure of what actually holds the weight in this case. Any input is appreciated.

FWIW, my doc said that since I've had PRK, autorefractors aren't necessarily as accurate since my cornea has been modified and isnt as 'round' as someones cornea who hasn't had the surgery, thus, I get a higher number through the autorefractor.

Thoughts?
 

nugget61

Active Member
pilot
When I went through (this summer), the doc's at OCS used their numbers, not the machine's.
Also at NAMI they used my OCS medical and did almost nothing down here.

Another thought that you'll have to consider with the touchup surgery is that it will require you to wait another 6 months for the waiver. And my waiver took forever - almost 17 months (not the 'approval' letter you get from TN but the real waiver)
 

Planeform

Well-Known Member
pilot
I'm not considering any touch up surgery...I will go as I am...my OCS date is set as Dec 5th, only a little over a month away. That is definitely good that they used the doc's numbers. Also, about the waiver...so what I got when I was approved for OCS was basically approval to get a waiver...it took you 17 months after OCS to actually get your waiver?
 

nugget61

Active Member
pilot
17 months post surgery for the actual waiver, 7 months for the recruiting command approval letter
 

jiggs

Naval Aviator
I'm not considering any touch up surgery...I will go as I am...my OCS date is set as Dec 5th, only a little over a month away. That is definitely good that they used the doc's numbers. Also, about the waiver...so what I got when I was approved for OCS was basically approval to get a waiver...it took you 17 months after OCS to actually get your waiver?
How did this turn out for you? Did you pass your physical and get into flight school? I'm in a similar situation- slight refractive error post-PRK. OCS Dec 2011.
 

Planeform

Well-Known Member
pilot
Hey jiggs,

I had totally forgot about this posting. The short of it is, everything worked out just fine. I'm currently in Primary at Whiting. When I went for my flight physical here and up in RI, no one made a fuss about what the machine said, and the docs told me I was good to go...although I am required to wear correction in the cockpit. Hope that helps.

-G
 

Planeform

Well-Known Member
pilot
Also, it seems the number on the auto refractor can vary widely depending on eye moisture, rest, etc.
 
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