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BDCP and eyesight questions

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cougar23

Registered User
I'm and high school senior, and I've applied for admission to the Naval Academy, and have been told that after I pass one last eye test that I'll be extended an offer of admission; I'm going to visit the end of March and depending on how I feel about my visit I'll make my decision whether to accept or decline then. However, I was wanting to know that, if I decline the offer of appointment to attend a civilian college (which my top college choice doesn't have Navy ROTC), would a review board hold it against me that I declined when I go to apply for BDCP or OCS?

My second question refers to eyesight. I currently have to wear contacts because I lack 20/20 vision. I was talking with my eye doctor today about doing PRK after I turn 21 if I choose to go to a civilian college. He said that he thought to be pilot-eligible that I must meet more eye qualifications that seeing 20/20 after the surgery. He said something about depth perception etc. I've already passed my Academy eye exam and recieved a waiver for vision less than 20/20, so I was wondering exactly what my eye doctor meant by "other factors." Then, assuming that I'm cleared for officer selection besides 20/20 vision, do you know what the procedures are dealing with applying for BDCP or OCS after haivng PRK? Are there any special procedures that must be done, besides a waiver request and sending all the paperwork from the surgery to the Navy for review? Also, since I can apply for BDCP at the end of my sophomore year, but can't have the surgery until after Christmas my junior year, will having to have the surgery delay my being able to be accepted for BDCP or OCS?

Thank you for you time and help.

~Josh
 
Thisguy

Thisguy

Pain-in-the-dick
One of the guys in my OCS class actually went to the academy and left after plebe summer because he decided that he didn't want to continue the academic year. I don't think they'll hold it against you.
 
ben

ben

not missing sand
pilot
Super Moderator
Contributor
You won't get accepted into BDCP/OCS if your eyes aren't up to standards. That means that if you need PRK to make your eyes good enough, you will have to wait at least 6 months AFTER prk before you will be considered for a waiver. The other things your doctor was referring to are probably depth perception, colorblindness, and the actual shape of your eye.

There's some guys on the forum who have actually had PRK and gone through the waiver process. They will be able to answer your questions a lot better than I can.

Also, why must you wait for the PRK surgery? Can you not just go ahead and get it done? And, if you do go to the Academy, the Navy may foot the bill for getting the PRK done. You should check into that since it's such an expensive procedure.
 
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cougar23

Registered User
bcgeib said:
You won't get accepted into BDCP/OCS if your eyes aren't up to standards. That means that if you need PRK to make your eyes good enough, you will have to wait at least 6 months AFTER prk before you will be considered for a waiver. The other things your doctor was referring to are probably depth perception, colorblindness, and the actual shape of your eye.

There's some guys on the forum who have actually had PRK and gone through the waiver process. They will be able to answer your questions a lot better than I can.

Also, why must you wait for the PRK surgery? Can you not just go ahead and get it done? And, if you do go to the Academy, the Navy may foot the bill for getting the PRK done. You should check into that since it's such an expensive procedure.
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Well, the requirements for PRK require you to be at least 21 before you have it done, because up until that age nearsightedness development is still changing. The only way that I could have it done earlier was to go for several eye exams, like once a month, where they would document if my nearsightedness is changing, and if it stays the same over a period of six months, then the doctor COULD go ahead and agree to do the surgery, but he said that nearsightedness doesn't stop fluctuating for most people until age 21.
 
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