Eye surgeries

[crzepilot]

Does anyone know what surgeries are accepted by the Air Force for pilots?

 

[FracCapt]

As of about a year ago, only PRK.

 

[dtfl]

They are "looking" at WG LASIK - Waveguide lasik. I am no Dr, but from the way I understand it they map the eye more accurately then perform the surgery. I think there was one test case - I read it in some AF mag.

 

[anjinoo7]

• PILOT
• Vision:
  • Normal color vision
  • Distant vision – pilots, uncorrected to 20/70
  • Near vision – pilots, uncorrected to 20/20
  • Meet refraction, accommodation and astigmatism requirements
  • Corrective eye surgery could be a disqualifier
• Have no history of hay fever, asthma or allergies after age 12
• Navigator
• Vision
  • Normal color vision
  • Distant vision – 20/200 but corrected to 20/20
  • Near vision – 20/40 but corrected to 20/20
  • Meet refraction, accommodation and astigmatism requirements
  • Corrective eye surgery could be a disqualifier
• Have no history of hay fever, asthma or allergies after age 12

With that being said I would wait to have it done by the Air Force. I recieved Lasik at the Academy, typically they only waiver folks for PRK but that will change soon. If you are not in, wait before you do anything then get it on paper that they ok you to do something like that. If you get surgery prior to coming in it's not in your official medical record. It also depends on the amount of pilots they are needing, sometimes they waiver folks because they need good pilots. There is a waiver for everything!

Cheers

 

[Frisko]

I had PRK prior to applying and currently going through the application process. The waiver seems to be readily available to civilians WITH THE PROPER DOCUMENTATION AND WHO MET THE PREOPERATIVE LIMITS.
Make sure you meet these 2 requirements if you have it done.

 

[bobs98tlr]

I have 20/200 in my left eye and 20/70 in the right eye corrected to 20/20 in both with my contacts. However, with my eye sight the way it is would that disqualify me from PRK? How im reading the requirments posted above is that if your eyes are worse the 20/70 uncorrected then your not even eligable for PRK?

 

[Frisko]

Nope, those are the requirements without surgery. There is a maximum refractive error requirement prior to surgery of +8.00/-8.00 as well as some other restrictions.

 

[crzepilot]

Well I already have been sponsered for a flight spot and was told my astigmatism was outside of standards, I am not currently in the military does anyone know if I need to get surgery before being medically cleared or can I somehow wait and the military will take care of it all?

 

[Frisko]

If you're sponsored for a flight spot, I'm guessing they won't let you in till you can pass the FC1. You can do PRK through the AF but you need to be in the AF first. The only way to do that would be to give up the sponsorship and sign up for something else which seems like a bad idea.
I'd say work with your recruiter, maybe they can put the spot on hold while you get the surgery and go through the year waiting period. Just make sure you check out those pre-operative requirements for astigmatism before going out and getting the surgery done.

 

[PeanuckleCRJ]

How long did it take to get the waiver? This is something that I've always wanted to do, but it's always seemed to never line up properly. A recruiter I talked with in TLH about a year and a half ago told me it would in reality take closer to 2 years.... grrrr.

 

[psysicx]

Usually six or so months.There has to be so many check ups.Pretty much anybody can have the surgrey and be within the requirements for a pilot slot.

 

[Frisko]

But you need to be at least a year out to go to UPT. I'm not sure if you can apply for the waiver before the 1 year waiting period. They want 2 refractions at least 6 months apart showing stabilization and a 1 year total period after the date of surgery. If everything went perfectly on the timing, I'd say 1 to 1.5 years.
The Navy's wait is shorter, 6 months I think.

 

[kelbill]

Well, way back when, I had strabismus surgery on both of my eyes. That is where they move the muscles that move your eyes. To get past my flight physical I did have to go to the top AF flight surgeon for a waiver. A few points to ponder:
1. I was an Academy puke
2. The USAF performed the surgeries for me at Sheppard AFB where a specialist was.
3. It still was a pain in the butt to get the waiver, but nothing is impossible if you complain enough.

With the war going on, they might be more relaxed/accepting of waivers to get quality volunteers. Good luck.

 

[csmorris]

They want 2 refractions at least 6 months apart showing stabilization and a 1 year total period after the date of surgery.

Do they want the refractions done by military docs, or do they just want it to be properly documented? I'm going to consult with whichever service I choose before I go through with PRK, but I'm curious as to exactly how much red tape there is to deal with. Forewarned is forearmed and all that fun stuff.

 

[Frisko]

All the follow up checkups and refractions are done by civilian docs. They will also take a refraction when you get your FC1 physical and a bunch of other tests during an extra day at Brooks for MFS (if going AF).
(This is all for civilian OTS applicants, PRK for ROTC and Academy is totally different)

 

[MGlobemaster]

Army

Does the Army or Marines have the same vision requirements as the AF? Can you have corrective surgery and still get a pilot slot flying choppers?