Military aviation vision requirement / Corrective surgery
 

Hi guys,

I'm currently a freshman in college considering applying to OTS and attempting to be part of military aviation. However, my vision is not great and i would have to get corrective surgery to even consider pursuing aviation in the military.

I know this article : LASIK Eye Surgery for Air Force Aviator Applicants
outlines the recent change, allowing air force members to get LASIK, but:

-Does LASIK/ corrective surgery have to be done through the Air Force to be considered for aviation or can you still pass medical requirements if you get LASIK done outside of the military?
-Is LASIK acceptable for all branches of military aviation (army, marines) or just for the Air Force?

Any insight would be great!

Welcome to APCF DBFly,

If you use the search function on this site (top left) you will be able to find more info that has been posted here in the past. I've searched "eye surgery" with a fair number of results.
With that said, a lot of the info here has to be taken with a grain of salt, especially with something as important as the topic of your vision and goals in the future.

I've become interested in this topic only because I'd always wanted to fly in the military, but back when I was young enough to go that route the option for corrective vision surgery was not available for a military aviator.

Hopefully, you will find some good info through a search of this site, and maybe some military aviators versed in what is CURRENTLY approved will help out here.

All I can say is don't do anything to your eyes surgery wise before you know the absolute gospel regarding current policy. I've seen some disagreement on the topic, but it seems to stand that you may shoot yourself in the foot (or eyes) if you undergo a civilian procedure that is not approved, or not within the parameters required by a particular branch of service.

Be careful of what recruiters may tell you too, they've been known to be wrong, or not up to speed on current guidelines.

Good luck, and thanks for wanting to be on the team!

Concur w/Kilgore. The search will yield alot of great information. I know I have posted links to the Navy and Air Force medical waiver guide sites. These waiver guidelines change as studies are complete and new technologies/procedures become available. You need to do your research before having any medical procedure done in hopes of getting a waiver from a follow on military medical review board. Example: You get PRK/LASIK done with good results. You are denied a waiver because your diopter numbers were outside the limits that the Navy would accept corrective surgery for. End result: NO WAIVER. I have personally seen this happen to a good friend of mine. The Navy didn't tell him about the diopter numbers ahead of time, but it was clearly spelled out in the waiver guide. Again, lots of information is available and it's always changing.

Current Navy Waiver guide for PRK/LASIK
http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/navmed...y%20080624.pdf

Please realize that the article on about.com does not come straight from the AF. I would have the AFI in hand before I think about doing anything. Also, the AF has, in the past, restricted PRK and LASIK waivers to candidates who received the surgery from the AF. I don't know if that has changed, but, I would be 100% sure before I spent my hard earned money at a civilian LASIK drive through clinic that does 20 procedures an hour.

BTW, The AF did my PRK 4 1/2 years ago and I'm still better than 20/15 in both eyes. Very happy with the results and the only cost was I had to be out of the cockpit for 30 days.

Thanks for the responses guys, i'll use the search function next time-

I'm a bit confused on when I would need to get the procedure done. In order to be eligible for a UPT spot, would I have to pass the medical exam before I enter OTS or could I receive the procedure though the AF during/before/after OTS and still be eligible to get a spot? Basically, is it plausible to get the procedure though the AF and still be be able to apply for a pilot slot after my vision is acceptable? I'm just confuesd as to the timing of getting everything done if I were to try to get the procedure done though the AF.

- I know these are technicalities that would seem irrevelant until I am colser to applying, but I'm just trying clear things up so i know i have a chance without being disqualified.

thanks

This is not in reference to pilots in particular, but the AF in general. Early last year, my stepson was trying to enlist in the AF. His father had previously paid for him to undergo Lasik surgery. My stepson had to wait about 8 months to go through a waiver process to even enlist. Once that was approved by the AF medical establishment, he was eligible to try for enlisted aircrew slots. Apparently, the AF is not too thrilled with Lasik they do not perform.

DBFLY,

I was reading your post, and I am in a similar situation, trying to figure out the timing of getting corrective eye surgery/ military surgeon vs civilian surgeon. I am not in military service yet. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Confused,

joemes

In the air national guard, it's approved. PM me for details, you'll have a 12 month wait before you can get a FC1. Doesn't have to be done by the AF, LASIK, EPI LASIK (Preferred), and PRK are approved. First hand knowledge.

While those procedures may be 'approved' you need to be very cognizant of your pre-existing conditions(diopter #s) before assuming you'll be good to go. Personally know an individual who was IN OCS(Navy) after having surgery and being medically cleared to start, only to be found NPQ during his NOMI physical due to pre-existing conditions being out of limits, even with corrective surgery. Be careful and as stated, know what the regs state, they are CONSTANTLY changing!

Indeed, which is why the gentleman would hopefully pm me for details. There are a lot of stipulations, but I was able to meet them with 20/400 eyes.