Once and for all, please help me figure out my eyes

Singhdrewan · February 26, 2017

Hello all,

I'm in the process of putting a WOFT packet together. Took the ASVAB, security interview and physical at MEPS, and am currently studying for the SIFT. My recruiter has given me wrong information continuously(flight physical after board, sign a contract before I get selected, etc), and I honestly have stopped listening to his advice. My eyes aren't amazing. My left eye is 20/20, but my right eye is 20/200, but is correctable to 20/20. My recruiter keeps pushing me now to take the flight physical and assures me that I will pass with my eyesight, even though regs clearly say 20/50 uncorrected. I've even called the flight surgeon at Rucker who told me I was out of the minimum requirements. After I relayed the information, I got the answer of, "nah, I still think you're good." I'm 100% willing to do PRK or LASIK and wait before I do a flight physical and hopefully pass it. Is it worth going into a flight physical that I'm more than likely going to fail, do the surgery, then take it again? Is there more red tape/waivers I'd have to go through? Or should I just do the surgery now, and go in with full disclosure that I've done it (obviously I'm not going to lie that I've done it). I'm well within the pre op regs. Another question is that will I have to redo my MEPS physical after the surgery? I really don't want to get flagged as being dishonest, as I did put that I haven't had any eye surgeries for my initial physical.

Thanks everyone for your time, hopefully I can stop worrying about all of this.

Lindsey · February 26, 2017

Get a new recruiter, the one you have now is an idiot and you risk ruining your packet down the road.

Singhdrewan · February 26, 2017

Get a new recruiter, the one you have now is an idiot and you risk ruining your packet down the road.

Definitely thinking about it. Do you suggest I just do the surgery now?

USCav19D · February 26, 2017

Definitely thinking about it. Do you suggest I just do the surgery now?

I'd suggest you talk to the fellow you spoke to earlier here at Rucker regarding that.

mike0331 · February 26, 2017

Doesn't hurt to get a name of who you talk to for your own records, either.

Mike

wheelsup · February 26, 2017

I think you already know your answer.. The recruiter is wrong, you're going to fail a flight physical with 20/200 in the right eye. I feel like I was in almost the same scenario 3 years ago, I was 100% willing to have surgery and put a packet in straight from civilian.. my recruiter didn't recommend it but DID recommend I enlist and have the army pay for it (which they did). BUT the big BUT here is.. Yes the army paid for my eyes to get fixed but here I am 3 years later finally submitting my packet **I HAVE NO REGRETS**

But having said that, if you're willing to do the surgery, get it done right away.. you'll probably have to redo MEPS which you'll probably have to wait 6 months post surgery (just from what I've read on here), you'll probably have to become very familiar with what post surgery measurements and tests and/or forms the flight surgeons will require to submit the exception to policy to rucker.

Like most Army things it'll require some patience and perseverance but that just makes it more rewarding in the end.

Singhdrewan · February 27, 2017

Thanks everyone! I'm going to call Rucker one more time tomorrow, get as much information as I can, and make a decision. And look for a new recruiter.

BM1 · February 27, 2017

Get it done, best money I ever spent. You want PRK not lasik, your corneas are less likely to tear if you get hit in the eye. Downside is recovery is a couple days not an hour or two. Any Doctor worth his salt will ask your profession and recommend the same. Dont skimp on the Doctor either, worth an extra grand to get the best/newest equipment. Print out and take the forms initially to your consultation, the pre operation paperwork is just as important. The Doctor I used was very familiar with the process, and honestly if your eyes are within specs before and after it is a check in the box on the flight physical and the whole thing ended up being the least troublesome part of the packet. Total cost was about 3500 for me after a 1500 dollar military discount, but I did seek out a higher end place with a great track record, my eyes are not something I want to mess around with.

Singhdrewan · February 27, 2017

Get it done, best money I ever spent. You want PRK not lasik, your corneas are less likely to tear if you get hit in the eye. Downside is recovery is a couple days not an hour or two. Any Doctor worth his salt will ask your profession and recommend the same. Dont skimp on the Doctor either, worth an extra grand to get the best/newest equipment. Print out and take the forms initially to your consultation, the pre operation paperwork is just as important. The Doctor I used was very familiar with the process, and honestly if your eyes are within specs before and after it is a check in the box on the flight physical and the whole thing ended up being the least troublesome part of the packet. Total cost was about 3500 for me after a 1500 dollar military discount, but I did seek out a higher end place with a great track record, my eyes are not something I want to mess around with.

Absolutely! Thank you for the response. I have a lot of doctor friends that recommended me a particular surgeon, and the price is just around there (minus discount). Definitely not going to skimp out on my eyesight. Thanks a lot for spending the time to respond!

Singhdrewan · March 1, 2017

Made a consultation for tomorrow. Can anyone forward me the pre op paperwork? I feel like I've found it on this forum before, but can't find it again. Thanks.

wheelsup · March 1, 2017

http://glwach.amedd.army.mil/victoryclinic/documents/Army_APLs_28may2014.pdf

CTRL-F corneal refractive surgery. Appendix 2 and 3 should have what you're looking for. Appendix 3 has pre and post measurements needed. Not sure if you'll need appendix 2 or not...

Also there's a FAQ after Appendix 3 with some good info for you to read.

Singhdrewan · March 1, 2017

Thanks a lot! Appreciate it!

Army Hopeful · March 6, 2017

Definitely find a new recruiter. Sounds like he is trying to DQ you as quickly as possible so he can try and talk you into going enlisted.

mike0331 · March 6, 2017

Ha. When I first talked to a recruiter 5 years ago after I got back from overseas I was told "Nobody actually flies in the army, you look like you'd love the infantry."

Mike

espo180 · March 7, 2017

Guys, download the "MedStandards" app. It's free and it has the aeromedical policy letter from the army dated May 2015. It has the phone number for the flight surgeon at Rucker. I gave him a call and asked him questions.

According to him AND the aeromedical policy letter LASIK, PRK and LASEK are all acceptable provided your eyes are within a certain standard pre-op.

Furthermore, when the military approved LASIK, the first step was being done with a blade. They found that the chance that the flap could open up is rare but possible. Nowadays most doctors create the flap with a laser which results in a smaller flap and therefore even further reduces chance.

This is all based on my conversations with Rucker and my reading of the aeromedical policy letter. Again the doc at Rucker has twice assured me lasik is acceptable.

The problem is it seems the info hasn't flowed down to everyone else in the Army. The recruiter I'm working with was under the impression PRK was the only option. However, I called the doc at Rucker again and he said LASIK is all good.

Another confusing point. You can have a flight physical 3 months after surgery however MEPS won't let you do the standard physical until 6 months has passed.

Army Hopeful · March 7, 2017

MEPS gets their guidance from MEPCOM, not the Army. That is probably why there is a difference between the flight physical time and the MEPS physical.

There might be a way to do an exception to policy to physical before 6 months at MEPS. It's a long shot but you can always try. Worst that happens is they say no and you wait another 3 months and then go.