Laser eye surgery in the military

dewy7515

dewy7515

New Member
In the air force, and the rest of the military, pilots must have vision no worse than 20/50 and a refractive erroe no worse than +2.00/-1.00. For people with eyes worse than that, they cannot become pilots. Recieving laser eye surgery is a direct disqualification for potential flying duties. There is a waiver that can be submitted granting that individual a pardon for their surgery, providing that there was a full healing of the eyes. Yet, if something in the surgery did get messed up, you will never be able to fly. It may be safer just to keep your eyes the way they were. Is laser eye surgery worth the risk?
 
Laser eye surgery is an automatic DQ for applicants who aren't yet in the military, but the USAF is now paying for it for servicemembers, including pilots. The catch is that those who have it done are limited to aircraft that won't ever see cabin altitudes over 13,000 ft or something like that, so all fighters, trainers and even C-130s are out of the picture.

Oh, and if you're already in the AF, their pilot standard is 20/70 before you even have to start talking waivers.
 
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So that limits you just to helicopters?

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That limits everything. You have to fly a trainer before they let you fly anything else.
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Brian. Based on some things aloft has said at some other threads, I wouldn't accept his word as gospel. Be sure you get a second opinion before you make a life changing decision.
 
You can have PRK and be a pilot in the navy. You can go on to fly jets or anything else. I don't think they are allowing Lasix yet. You have to have it done and then allow 6 months to a year of your eyes being stable.
 
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Is the PRK allowed for the naval reserves? What is the difference between lasix and PRK?

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Yes, but just so you know, Naval Reserve units do not send people to pilot training. All USNR pilots are prior Active Duty. I dont know the exact specifics but I think the difference is the type or laser they use and the technique. I think one of the LASIKS (theres two out there) cuts a flap in the cornea of your eye. In the event of an ejection, that flap can come open or come off and if anything gets in there, your blind. PRK is accepted because all they do is reshape your cornea by cutting some of it away and not actually exposing the inner part of the eye. But PRK is the old way of doing it, its been around since the mid-80's, so its getting harder and harder to find a civilain doc who can do it.
 
So with 20/15 vision I can not enter the AF to fly.
I am taking some vitimans that are surrposed to improve you vision so hopefully I can get it up to 20/20. If not guess I can only go the civil way.
I read an eye chart a few days ago and it said I had 20/20 but last time I checked before taking the vitimans I had 20/15 according to my genral physician..
 
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So with 20/15 vision I can not enter the AF to fly.
I am taking some vitimans that are surrposed to improve you vision so hopefully I can get it up to 20/20. If not guess I can only go the civil way.
I read an eye chart a few days ago and it said I had 20/20 but last time I checked before taking the vitimans I had 20/15 according to my genral physician..

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ROFL. 20/15 means that you can read a letter on the wall, call it 'A'. You can read 'A' from 20 feet away, while people with 20/20 vision can only read it from 15 feet away. 20/15. I guess the vitamins are doing their jobs, as your vision is great.

My prescription is something like 20/75. I've explored the PRK option for the Air Force, but I didn't find anywhere stating that the Navy accepts it as well. I also heard from a retired Air Force recruiter that pilot candidates with 20/20 uncorrected vision take priority over those who are eligible for PRK. Is this true? I scored a 97 on the ASVAB (and I'm going into my junior year so I can still take it a couple more times), have a high GPA, play a varsity sport and am in leadership positions. Will the fact that my eyesight isn't so great put me at a tremendous disadvantage for military flying jobs?
 
Last I heard the Army was paying for you to have the eye surgery if you went into their helo program.

National Guard allows you to wear glasses
 
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