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WOFT - Worst waiverable vision?


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I've been lurking around here quite a bit and I have a basic idea about the application process. My main concern, however, is my vision. My vision is somewhere between 20/100 to 20/200.

 

Does anyone have experience getting a waiver for 20/200?

 

 

 

No you can't. I'm assuming you're speaking of your distant vision. If so, requirements for class 1 physical is 20/50 or better correctable to 20/20, distant vision up to 20/70 will be considered for a waiver. AR 40-501 and the aeromedical policy letters are your references.

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May be worth mentioning that you CAN get corrective surgery, most people I tell this seem dumbfounded. If you decide you want to go that route, just make sure you get all the necessary paperwork on either side of the procedure.

 

Mike

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May be worth mentioning that you CAN get corrective surgery, most people I tell this seem dumbfounded. If you decide you want to go that route, just make sure you get all the necessary paperwork on either side of the procedure.

 

Mike

From what wheelsup said, I'd need at least 20/70 uncorrected to have any chance of even getting a waiver. I know corrective surgery like Lasik and PRK is available but that's only to correct it to 20/20. It doesn't affect the pre surgery requirements.

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Correct, just wanted to make sure you knew that was an option. A lot of people think you can't get corrective surgery if you want to be a pilot and give up after that. I've talked to so many guys through the years in the military who wanted to be a pilot but "didn't have the vision for it."

Mike

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Unless I'm mistaken, "Correctable" refers to corrective lenses, not surgery. If you get surgery and come out with 20/20 I'm pretty sure you're solid. Be aware though that surgery patients often regress after 10 years or so which if you wanted to stay flight status you may need a second surgery.

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^What walkerman said. Correctable means with glasses. Your pre-surgery vision has different standards, measured in diopters, somewhere around 8.00. I was right on the edge of the pre-surgery (not uncorrected) vision. Go get LASIK or PRK and you'll be good to go.

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Unless I'm mistaken, "Correctable" refers to corrective lenses, not surgery. If you get surgery and come out with 20/20 I'm pretty sure you're solid. Be aware though that surgery patients often regress after 10 years or so which if you wanted to stay flight status you may need a second surgery.

 

Except once you're going for a class 2, I believe it's all the way down to 20/400 or something ridiculous, as long as it's correctable to 20/20.

 

It's been awhile since I've really looked at that APL, though.

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Guys, I wrote a detailed post on this but will rewrite. Look at 'MedStandards' app on the App Store it has the aeromedical policy letters.

 

It has the number for the flight surgeon at Rucker and I gave him a call. I have 20/200 currently but am getting PRK next week. I gave the flight surgeon my eyeglass prescription as well as my measurements from my laser surgeon and he said I was well within pre-op standards which is +\- 8 diopeters. I've spoken to him like 5x.

 

Once I get surgery I will have to wait 6 months before MEPS. It's a MEPS thing. It's 3 months for flight physical but MEPS is 6 months. And in order to do the flight physical you have to go to MEPS first. Other people have encountered the same thing on here and they told me it was 6 months also.

 

I will be corrected. Oh also, the aeromedical policy letter states that LASIK, PRK and LASEK are all accepted. If you don't believe me give the Rucker doc a call, he's super helpful.

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Yes, I called. There's a section on refractive surgery in the aeromedical policy letters. It's the office for aeromedical policy at Rucker and the phone is answered by an admin. I kindly explained my situation and she transferred me to a doctor. The guy goes by the title of doctor and he was super helpful and able to answer all these technical questions when it came to eyesight therefore I reasonably assume he's a flight surgeon.

 

Use the Medstandards app. It's free and it contains the Army's aeromedical policy letters. It has an in depth section on refractive surgery.

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...

Quick question for those that have had PRK?

 

I had my surgery in late April, so far I'm really impressed with the results I'd say I'm 95% satisfied. However, I see a little bit of glare at night when looking at lights. My understanding is this goes away after a few more months as part of the healing process. I used a really top surgeon with the latest technology. I've been consistently reading 20/20 at each check up. What are people's experiences with healing?

 

Also, is it possible to get a flight physical without going to MEPS? I understand this to be possible.

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Quick question for those that have had PRK?

 

I had my surgery in late April, so far I'm really impressed with the results I'd say I'm 95% satisfied. However, I see a little bit of glare at night when looking at lights. My understanding is this goes away after a few more months as part of the healing process. I used a really top surgeon with the latest technology. I've been consistently reading 20/20 at each check up. What are people's experiences with healing?

 

Also, is it possible to get a flight physical without going to MEPS? I understand this to be possible

 

 

I would say the glare you're experiencing at this point in your healing is normal, I think it's safe to say by 6 months you should be pretty well healed. I personally have some glare at night but it honestly doesn't bother me and comparatively to when I was healing, it's pretty insignificant. I had my surgery over a year ago.

 

Someone else can probably shed more light on the flight physical question but I believe you could go to local unit that conducts flight physicals but I'm not sure who arranges those.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Flight physical is a mega pain in the ass to get if you aren't in the process of joining and having a recruiter do it. The Guard unit is allowing me to apply directly, but I need to get all the lab work/vision work/EKG etc done on my own dime (fortunately the VA has been great and is doing it all as I'm prior service), and the flight surgeon will assemble it and send it to Rucker. The guard won't fund any of my testing as I'm a non-member. Your mileage may vary.

 

Mike

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