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Brian- wrote:You keep giving out duff advice mate. You CAN join the Marines with glasses/contacts, plenty do!

YESSSS!!!!
I really like the idea of being a RM. Only problem is my eyesight is shite. L-3.25 and R 3.50 if anyone’s interested. I wear glasses but I also wear contact lenses. My vision is fine with them.
I am going to get laser-eye surgery when I am 21 to correct my vision. Going to get it done properly. It’s going to cost me nearly 4 grand! I use other forums and apparently if you get it done and try to join, then no chance. Whereas if you "accidentally" get it done whilst you are in then your basically alright.
Since I am planning on joining when I am 18 I will have a couple of years service under my belt before I get it done.
My plan was to try for RM and failing that because of my vision go for the Para's.
Does anyone know whether having glasses/having laser eye surgery restricts you in anyway in RM? And if you are restricted from something because you have glasses, is it suddenly freed-up because you have had laser-eye surgery?
Mr. Nuts

foxtrotgolf wrote:There are eye exercises you can do which can result in a slight improvement of your vision. Worth a shot if it's only one line.

I was going to mention this, there's an article that sums it up here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_Vision_Improvement

And a free online book about it here:
http://www.iblindness.org/books/bates/


The only thing is, it isn't proven, some say it works, some say it doesn't. From what I understand they work by exercising the muscles in the eye, which like any other muscle in the body can be strengthened. In theory I guess, if your particular eyesight problems are caused by these muscles (Something to do with the muscles in the eye not being able to flex the lens enough to focus the light onto the retina.), then it should work - as far as A-Level biology tells me anyway! Either way, theres no way it can make your eyesight worse, so what is there to lose?

Hope it helps!

RIGHT!!!

So you can join the Marines with Glasses, so why is myself and everybody else out there with vision problems so worried. You will get in if you have to switch to glasses wont you, so why is everybody worrying.


And i know its a fact you can get in with glasses in to the army!! Im 100% certain!!

You guys have got no problem. I'm bloody colourblind!
Still, my AFCO has told me that it won't be a problem but I'm not going to count my chickens just yet.

rgj-rifleman wrote: And i know its a fact you can get in with glasses in to the army!! Im 100% certain!!

No one was debating that! I said you were wrong about the Marines, but you thought I was talking about the Army, that's it!

Whereas if you "accidentally" get it done whilst you are in then your basically alright.

Numbnuts, how exactly do you accidentally get laser eye surgery...? Seems like something you'd notice...

Sonne

ali_hire Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 10:06 am Post subject:

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You guys have got no problem. I'm bloody colourblind!
Still, my AFCO has told me that it won't be a problem but I'm not going to count my chickens just yet.

That could cause a problem, my dad was colour blind though and seved in the paras, and the guards and the raf regiment. DOnt worry too much but like you say, dont count your chickens.

It really isnt fair and i think if you are physically able you should be allowed to but its not a fair world unfortunatly otheriwse id be shacked up with my dream celebrity

...and who would that be?

I have read articles that suggest that colourblindness can actually give you any advantage when hunting or seeking out camouflage. I don't know that I wholeheartedly agree with this theory though.

No ive heard that before, like i said as long as your physically able why not.

Yeah RFN Karawana in my TA platoon told me his Grandad in World War 2 was posted to a sight plane or somthing to spot out camofaged unit on the ground. Somthing like that. Quite interesting though!!

Sonne wrote:

Whereas if you "accidentally" get it done whilst you are in then your basically alright.

Numbnuts, how exactly do you accidentally get laser eye surgery...? Seems like something you'd notice...

Sonne

"Well, I was just walking along when I tripped over this rock and fell down some stairs knocking this guy out of his chair. I fell in it of course and suddenly this guy gave me this injection and when I woke up I could see. I swear Sir that’s just what happened...."

Nahh, I confess. What I said above was a porkie. How could you tell?
But I think that if you want it done there is nothing anyone can do to stop you since you are using your own money. All I am aware you have to do is inform them you are having it done. I don't understand why they would think it is a bad idea since it is all for the better.
You might get demoted to a crap bean-counting job for a year to recover, but other than that I think it is just "frowned upon".
Mr. Nuts

now im worried, ive never really worried about my eyesight before - it has always been good, but recently ive noticed the vision in my right eye has deteriorated, although my left eye is in top condition. i suddenly have a bad feeling that this little problem could cause bigger problems (such as being barred from entry) in the future.

The reason there are concerns about laser eye surgery is that the long-term strength of the scar isn't known (it hasn't been around long enough), and many people who get it done have problems with halos etc in their night vision. Often it's minor, but can be a problem. There are also more serious problems which occur much more rarely.
The concern about scar weakness is especially of concern to those who might pull high G-forces.

There's a new form of surgery in the pipeline where a lens is inserted into the eye, as is done in cataract surgery. The only debate at present is in which part of the eye it is best to insert the lens (trials are dues to finish in a few years). This doesn't damage the cornea. Personally, no-one's burning my cornea with a laser, but I'd definitely consider this option.

im interested to know how things are going for you mate, any news updates on your dillemma?

*fingers crossed*

ali_hire wrote:You guys have got no problem. I'm bloody colourblind!
Still, my AFCO has told me that it won't be a problem but I'm not going to count my chickens just yet.

if your colour blindness isn't really bad then it wont be a problem, i am colour blind also and it is pretty bad, i have a strong green deficiency and a mild blue/yellow deficiency but still managed to get through the tests (just)

colour blindness is scored 1 to 5 (5 being the worst), the navy doctor said that i was a 4 and if i had been a 5 i wouldn't have got in