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.
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!
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?
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!
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.
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?
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.
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. 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?
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. 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 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)
For those flying with glasses these days, what frames are you using? USN issued or something more retro from Oakleys?
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.
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?
20/200 is for fleet guys. You need 20/40 or better uncorrected to get accepted into OCS. Once you get PRK, hopefully you're vision is 20/20 or better and you're good and pre-op vision doesn't mean anything.
You can fly anything in the fleet with 20/40 or better. You just have to wear contacts or glasses while flying. Getting the surgery is an option for after your first flying tour, and being an aviator, you are top priority for getting on the list.
Does anyone know what the situation is with the Navy regarding the LASIK hiring program to evaluate the surgery? When I was first getting ready to get my OCS packet together, I had heard about the program and jumped at the chance. I spoke with my OR and told him upfront that I had LASIK and asked if the Navy was still seeking applicants with the surgery. I was given a solid yes and he requested all the necessary paperwork regarding my surgery. I also disclosed it on my MEPS form. No bullshit or trying to "trick" the system. I just received a pro rec for SNA/NFO and am concerned because, having visited the NAMI website, the official documents regarding NA/FO medical guidelines included the following: 1. No more applicants were being accepted for the program. 2. As previously known, LASIK as an automatic DQ, non-waiverable. Having checked this thread, a user (in JUN2009) posted that they had contacted the OIC out of San Diego who had informed him that the program was still searching for applicants. The announcements and requirements for the program have been posted in this thread as well and I cross-referenced those. Needless to say I am totally confused. I can't seem to get a straight answer. My paperwork was obviously submitted with my packet, but, I have yet to attend MEPS (it's the way my NRD does their OCS process). I figured that the Navy would not look at someone for NA/FO who had an automatic DQ, even less chance that they would receive a pro rec for the job. And again, I disclosed this up front. I would have just submitted for intel had this not existed. However, I do know that some have made it through only to get the NAMI WHAMMI upon getting NAS Pensacola. I've spoken with a few other friends who are Os and have received the, "if they looked at it and gave you the pro rec and you disclosed up front, I would not worry" response. I take minimal solace in this sort of response. Anyway, if anyone in the know or who has knowledge of this program can elaborate on its status or when I can expect the ax... My only other thought, and I will fight this until I'm as thoroughly destroyed as the Iraqi air force, is to seek a waiver into the study rather than the surgery... It's a thought... This is like having a buzz kill and blue balls...
It doesn't matter if you are correctable to better than 20/20, if you can't get the 20/40 line uncorrected, you won't get it. Vision is one of the least things they waiver for applicants
As has been said many times on this board (usually by me, as it turns out), you are not a pilot. You are an applicant, and the standards (for whatever your issue may be) are not the same as a pilot.
Another... Gents, lots of helpful gouge floating around, thanks. Ive been looking around, and still need a little human clarification for my situation. Im a Marine SNA sitting in the MATSG-21 pool. Ive received my Up-chit from NAMI once, but was sweating through the vision test, and they didnt tell me what my acuity is despite getting the OK from the Flight Doc. I don't start API until maybe February, but have my annual in January. Being pre-API but post-upchit, will I be subjected to the 20/40 or the 20/100. I have Navy glasses, and my chit has the "will wear glasses" box checked. Am I correct in understanding that Im under the 20/100 rule? I appreciate any info.
My guess is that after your NAMI physical and checked into A-pool, you are now "in the pipeline" and subject to 20/100. That's a question I'd have asked the doc at the time. Either way, don't sweat it. If your vision is fine now, it's not going to change over a couple months. Besides, after your initial physical it isn't as stressful.
My understanding is that you're in. You've already done the initial pre-API NAMI whammy, so you're not longer an "applicant." Your actual flight physical will be over at BMC w/ the rest of the herd. I've never done a flight physical at NPA BMC, only the NAMI whammy and then up at Whiting (and the fleet, of course), but it's my understanding that the normal annual check is at BMC, otherwise NAMI would never get anything done.
