TangoEchoAlpha Posted March 28, 2017 Report Share Posted March 28, 2017 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheelsup Posted March 28, 2017 Report Share Posted March 28, 2017 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike0331 Posted March 28, 2017 Report Share Posted March 28, 2017 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TangoEchoAlpha Posted March 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2017 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. MikeFrom 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike0331 Posted March 28, 2017 Report Share Posted March 28, 2017 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkerman180 Posted March 29, 2017 Report Share Posted March 29, 2017 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindsey Posted March 29, 2017 Report Share Posted March 29, 2017 ^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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharyouTree Posted April 1, 2017 Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo180 Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike0331 Posted April 4, 2017 Report Share Posted April 4, 2017 When I had called Rucker I had just spoken to an administrative person. Is there a number for an actual flight surgeon? Sorry to hijack Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo180 Posted April 4, 2017 Report Share Posted April 4, 2017 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo180 Posted April 23, 2017 Report Share Posted April 23, 2017 Hey everyone, I got PRK the other day. I tested 20/20 24hrs postop. So far so good. Taking the SIFT next month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElJay Posted April 24, 2017 Report Share Posted April 24, 2017 Good luck. Corrective eye surgery was the best investment I ever made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo180 Posted June 8, 2017 Report Share Posted June 8, 2017 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheelsup Posted June 8, 2017 Report Share Posted June 8, 2017 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike0331 Posted June 29, 2017 Report Share Posted June 29, 2017 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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