vision requirement for SNA confirmed

[BACONATOR]

Thats exactly what I'm afraid of. This line is part of a statement from the medical advisor of recruiting command...

"Code 00M defers to NOMI (BUMED-M3F8) for suitability for service in aviation programs"

...does anyone know what it means?

It means MEPS doesn't know their ass from a hole in the ground, and when you finally get a NOMI (NAMI) physical, THAT is the real determination that you're PQ. Shit, the guy at MEPS wrote my vision down as 20/20 when I couldn't see half the letters on that line simply because I was in the group of folks that didn't wear glasses (they separated us).

I don't mean to scare you, but I'm telling you that you won't fall through the cracks at NAMI, so I'd find out now if you can, and maybe work out getting PRK if your vision is bad enough.

 

[etspike]

What I was told about lasik

Hello All,

I posted this in another section but this is the better place for it I'm sure.

I had lasik surgery done about a year ago since I was considered NOT a good canidate for PRK. And I did NOT have it done through the Navy. I am current active duty enlisted, got it approved with my chain of command and everything.

I was worried about not being able to get a waiver because I didn't have PRK, but managed to track down a little bit of info. SNA are ALLOWED to get waivers for lasik, but they have to become part of the study being conducted for it. I talked to a LtCmdr at the Navy Refractive Surgery Center in San Diego and this is the info that he gave me.

Hope this helps!

 

[kacraven]

I just got off the phone with my recruiter - He told me the same thing - apparently Lasik is now approved for SNA's. Can anybody else confirm?

 

[robp0105]

I spoke the the LtCmdr in San Diego this morning, it's an ongoing study to evaluate the performance of applicants that have had Lasik surgery throughout the training process. The best part is that it's available to civilian applicants that had the surgery performed prior to joining.

My problem seems to be that I was already disqualified from an air contract. When I called my OSO's office to share the news that I was qualified for the study, he told me that since I was already DQ'd my MEPS/NAMI, there was nothing I could do. I think there's still a way to enroll in the study, but I keep getting bounced around. One thing is for sure, if there's still a chance at flying, I'm going to continue pursuing this!

 

[cgoetz]

Hey guys here is my situation I went to my doctor just this past March and he says that my eyesight 20/40 for the right and 20/40 + (not sure if that means its worse than 20/40 or better) He said that my current vision state is correctable and that vision has stayed constant over the last 3 years with very little change. I been wearing contact lenses for close to 3 years now. I have already gone through the MEPS process and was DQd because I had to get a waiver for the eyes. I submitted all the paperwork to my recruiter from the optometrist and I'm know waiting. I planned on getting PRK along but I just wanna clarify if PRK is going to be allowed by the navy with my vision as it is now or do I stick with my contacts?

 

[nugget61]

Hey guys here is my situation I went to my doctor just this past March and he says that my eyesight 20/40 for the right and 20/40 + (not sure if that means its worse than 20/40 or better) He said that my current vision state is correctable and that vision has stayed constant over the last 3 years with very little change. I been wearing contact lenses for close to 3 years now. I have already gone through the MEPS process and was DQd because I had to get a waiver for the eyes. I submitted all the paperwork to my recruiter from the optometrist and I'm know waiting. I planned on getting PRK along but I just wanna clarify if PRK is going to be allowed by the navy with my vision as it is now or do I stick with my contacts?

When I visited the doc, they daid I was 20/15 -1, therefore I read the 20/15 line with one incorrect. I would think that the + would mean you partially read the 20/30 line, but it's not safe to make any assumptions - ask the doc.
What kind of waiver are you getting? There is no waiver for poor acuity (must be 20/40) and they did away with the soft contact waiver.
The pre-op PRK guidelines are in the waiver guide (section 12-15 IIRC) and they look at your prescription, not what you read. You should be more than OK to get it done though, seeing as you are. Keep in mind that if you get PRK done now that you'll be med-down from attending OCS for 6 months, plus pre-waiver processing time (~1 month). But you also don't want to find out at OCS that you're 20/45 and DQed from SNA.

 

[cgoetz]

Hey I think I need some clarification about the pre-op requirements for PRK my prescrition is as follows:

Right Eye:

BC: 8.5
SPH: +0.25
CYL -2.25
AX: 170

Left Eye:

BC: 8.5
SPH: -0.50
CYL -1.75
AX 180

It says in the guide that refractive error must not exceed -8.00 t0 +3.00(SE) and 3.00 diopters of cylinder

Anisometropia should not exceed 3.50 diopters (using SE for each eye)

What I'm trying to find out is if I'm okay to get the surgury because it look like the cylinder part on my perscription might be out of standards.

My optometrist did say that my vision was correctable but that doesn't mean I meet the Navy's standards for the surgery or does it?

 

[bitterchaos]

I am currently applying for Pilot and NFO in the BDCP, but I have 20/100 in both eyes with slight astigmatism. From what I'm hearing, there's pretty much no way I would be selected for SNA with my vision, so should I just drop the Pilot choice alltogether and not waste the board's time?

Also, I know that soft contact lens waivers are required for SNA, but are they required for NFO as well? I just started wearing soft lens less than a month ago, but if they require the waiver with 6 months paperwork, I might as well just go back to wearing glasses.

 

[nugget61]

Hey I think I need some clarification about the pre-op requirements for PRK my prescrition is as follows:

#s

It says in the guide that refractive error must not exceed -8.00 t0 +3.00(SE) and 3.00 diopters of cylinder

Anisometropia should not exceed 3.50 diopters (using SE for each eye)

What I'm trying to find out is if I'm okay to get the surgury because it look like the cylinder part on my perscription might be out of standards.

My optometrist did say that my vision was correctable but that doesn't mean I meet the Navy's standards for the surgery or does it?

As I was told, and if feddoc doesn't chime in soon I'd send him a PM, but those values are for each eye, not total (I'm assuming that's how you're looking at it and thinking you're not eligible for prk).
You also didn't include your prescription power, which is the refraction. Seeing as how you are, I'd be surprised if you're too far from -1.5, which is well within standards.
What I would do - print out the waiver guide section, get a (free) prk eval and have the doc study the sheet and determine if you are eligible. Just keep in mind that he wants your money, so get copies of all the paperwork they generate and double check it with your regular eye doc. He won't want you to get the surgery, so see if he spots a problem.

I am currently applying for Pilot and NFO in the BDCP, but I have 20/100 in both eyes with slight astigmatism. From what I'm hearing, there's pretty much no way I would be selected for SNA with my vision, so should I just drop the Pilot choice alltogether and not waste the board's time?

Also, I know that soft contact lens waivers are required for SNA, but are they required for NFO as well? I just started wearing soft lens less than a month ago, but if they require the waiver with 6 months paperwork, I might as well just go back to wearing glasses.

You won't be accepted with your current vision. You can get it fixed on your own dime and apply in 6 months - BDCP pays a ton, so you'll recoup the 4-5k cost of the surgery.
It sounds like you need to decide what your dream job is - if its controlling the plane, it'd be well worth it to get the surgery and get what you want. Once you're in it'll be hard to switch over. If not, then just apply NFO - just know that this'll be your job for a while, so you'd better really want it.
WRT the contacts - the old SCL waiver was for vision worse than 20/40 and you could wear the contacts and still fly (no prk needed), as I understand it. I don't know of a 'new' waiver.

 

[bitterchaos]

You won't be accepted with your current vision. You can get it fixed on your own dime and apply in 6 months - BDCP pays a ton, so you'll recoup the 4-5k cost of the surgery.
It sounds like you need to decide what your dream job is - if its controlling the plane, it'd be well worth it to get the surgery and get what you want. Once you're in it'll be hard to switch over. If not, then just apply NFO - just know that this'll be your job for a while, so you'd better really want it.
WRT the contacts - the old SCL waiver was for vision worse than 20/40 and you could wear the contacts and still fly (no prk needed), as I understand it. I don't know of a 'new' waiver.

I thought long and hard about getting PRK before applying, but reality comes down to the fact that I simply do not have the money. I'm also only 20 and from what I heard from several opthamalogists, PRK is not recommended until around 25. My dream job is to be a pilot, but I would be more than satisified as an NFO. If accepted into the program, although difficult, I do plan on pursuing the NFO to Pilot pipeline.

To clarify on the contact lens question, I meant do I need a SCL waiver to apply for NFO? I just started trying out soft lenses a couple of weeks ago, and if a waiver (with 6 months paperwork) is required for the application process, then I'm just gonna go with my glasses.

But going with what you said about the old SCL waiver, do you mean I can apply for Pilot even with 20/100 vision as long as I get a waiver?

 

[nugget61]

I thought long and hard about getting PRK before applying, but reality comes down to the fact that I simply do not have the money. I'm also only 20 and from what I heard from several opthamalogists, PRK is not recommended until around 25. My dream job is to be a pilot, but I would be more than satisified as an NFO. If accepted into the program, although difficult, I do plan on pursuing the NFO to Pilot pipeline.

Well, there is a lot to say about getting the surgery too young. My surgeon went by a rule of 3 years with no prescription change, not age.
Every place I talked to did a free eval - I'd schedule one, get all of your questions asked and ask them about financing. When they told me about it, I thought I was at a car store, but they offered me 2 year financing for 4k.
Another really convoluted way to get the money, but you can take out a 0% interest loan against your schooling, use it to pay for the surgery in one fell swoop and then pay back your loan with BDCP money before you even graduate.
And wrt age - I had it done shortly before 23, so whoever said 25 is wrong. And I know of a lot more people on here that had it in the 20-22 range.
Don't let something like 4k determine your career path. I know 4k is no small chunk of change, especially for a broke ass college student, but its not like you'd never be able to pay off the debt... just don't write off getting a SNA slot without doing thorough research first.

To clarify on the contact lens question, I meant do I need a SCL waiver to apply for NFO? I just started trying out soft lenses a couple of weeks ago, and if a waiver (with 6 months paperwork) is required for the application process, then I'm just gonna go with my glasses.

No, you just have to be correctable. The 6 months for the waiver is for the PRK, not contacts.
Here's a link to the waiver guide, if you don't already have it:
http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/navmedmpte/nomi/nami/arwg/Pages/default.aspx

But going with what you said about the old SCL waiver, do you mean I can apply for Pilot even with 20/100 vision as long as I get a waiver?

No, thats how it used to be - they got rid of that and said you have to be 20/40 or better with no correction to fly, 20/20 with correction. (glasses or contacts)

 

[Clux4]

For those flying with glasses these days, what frames are you using? USN issued or something more retro from Oakleys?

 

[ru838434]

I'm not an aviator, but I couldn't help myself...

 

[nugget61]

I'm going to the eye doc on Monday and want to make sure I have him check everything necessary. I just don't know all there is to check.

Near sight
Distant sight
Depth
Color
??
??

Thanks

Honestly, print the 1 or 2 pages from the waiver guide and have him check everything that he has the equipment for.
If possible you want the regular (manifest) and dilated (cyclo) done for the near and distant measurements. And if you check depth/color, make sure its one of the approved methods. Don't want to get tested wrong and get disappointed later on at NAMI.

 

[Red Pilgrim]

I was reading through the NAMI reference and waiver guide to get an idea about what I would need to get a waiver.

I'm 20:200 and my concern is in regards to the portion of the guide saying that those with 20:200 would be restricted from shipboard duties including VSTOL.

Would that apply even if I were to get PRK? Does it apply to those whose contacts give them 20:20?