Eye Surgery

[redskins4789]

First a little background on myself. I'm trying to apply to WOFT as a civilian. Ill be graduating from Auburn this spring and had planned on finishing my packet around March or May. I was going to start my packet but went to the eye doctor and was told I have 20/60 vision in my left eye with 20/50 in my right. From what Ive gathered this disqualifies me from WOFT. My recruiter was pushing hard for me to enlist then get the surgery but I feel confident that I can make it in as a civilian. The two surgeries I have read a lot about are the PRK and Lasik. My recruiter told me that the PRK is the only surgery the army accepts these days. I was wondering what your guys experience has been with either of these surgeries? Also would I have to get it done by a specific Army surgeon or could I get it done by a civilian? And is there any specific way the army requires it to get done?

 

I understand that getting this surgery would push everything back 6 months but it has long been a dream of mine to fly helicopters for the Army and I don't intend to let this set me back. But when it comes to the point later in the year after I have recovered and start the process again will having this surgery on my record hold me back in the selection process?

[rrhoads17]

If you have the PRK it will delay the process by months, but if you enlist first, then it will take years of hard work to get accepted. You can ask anyone of the forum, and they will tell you competition is way stiffer for AD than civilian. I've noticed a lot of the AD guys trying to go warrant have combat experience and lots of leadership experience. Recruiters want you to enlist first, cause WOFT packets are a pain the ass to do. But if you hound them, then they will help you with your packet, but don't expect to be their number 1 priority, and be ready to do a majority of the leg work yourself. I know that first-hand, and I am shooting for March as well.

[dovq2011]

I got PRK because I failed the Initial FDME on my first go around due to my vision. After PRK, I had wait 90 days post-op before I could redo my Initial FDME. Which was awesome because my 90 day mark was literally 4 days before I left for NTC so by the time I got back, I was able to schedule my Phase II. But as rrhoads17 put it, be prepared to wait a good minute after getting surgery if this is the route you choose to pursue.

 

On a side note - PRK is pretty awesome. The first few days kinda suck, it's like someone poured fine sand in your eyes and rubbed it in. But the weeks after, you go from everything being all blurry to being able to see objects at the molecular level - pretty neat stuff.

[Lindsey]

Both PRK and LASIK are readily accepted not only by the Army, but Army Aviation. I know tons of people who had LASIK, including myself. It will delay your packet by six months which is absolutely nothing compared to enlisting first. The recovery time for LASIK is not even 24 hours. I could read the ticker on the bottom of CNN across the room later on that day after my eyes adjusted to light sensitivity. It is the best money I have ever spent. Highly, highly, highly recommend.

[rrhoads17]

You could have the PRK or Lasic and in the mean time you can be working on studying for SIFT and working on the PFT. That way, the two worst things will be out of the way by the time you have a flight physical.

[HeloChris]

I am a civilian WOFT applicant aswell and I got PRK eye surgery last May, after being told that is the only way I would pass the flight physical. I had it done by a civilian laser eye surgery place, after talking with the lady who schedules my flight physicals at the MEPS facility.

 

I went from 20/50 in each eye (with a astigmatism) to 20/10 (maybe even better but that is the smallest my optometrist can make the charts ).

 

It is true you have to wait 6 months from post-op. In November I took my flight physical again, they had me do some extra things since I had the surgery, I had to do a low light eye test ( they dimmed the letters and made me read them) they had some machine look at my eye to see how my surgery went. They also had a optometrist doctor in the army evaluate my eyes again during the flight physical and she also reviewed all of my supporting Op and Post-Op documents pertaining to the surgery. It all went well and I was told I passed the physical about a week and a half later!

 

I would recommend it, but also consider the risks associated with it (something going wrong with the surgery, or not being able to pass the flight physical for some other reason, etc..) and understand that you will have to wait 6 months at the least to continue with the process of joining. But you can use that 6 months to improve your packet in other ways (study for SIFT if you havent taken it, work on APFT score, get LoRs). From what i was told if the surgery goes well and you have good documentation the waiver and approval of the surgery is easy to get. Thats how it worked for me. If flying for the Army is something you really want 6 months is hardly any wait at all, plus seeing perfectly is awesome.