Eyesight & Laser Surgery

[HardRock]

Afternoon Gents,

Just to let you know, I just got off the phone with the MOD and an AFCO.

OK, I (as with others on this forum) have bad eyesight, I have done previous threads on this specifying the criteria that you are required to meet. Now I know that IF I was to pass the medical, then it would be by the skin of my teeth. So I am considering laser surgery. I know there is a lot of grey areas when it comes to if you are allowed it, and what forms..

So I phoned the MOD this morning, they said that they did not have the correct up-to-date information there, but put me through to one of the bigger AFCO's that deal with Officer entry (since I am considering Officer). The lady I spoke to there was very helpful, she advised that some forms of laser surgery ARE permitted, but not all, and it depends on the amount of correction performed, and how your eyes recover. She also told me that it is possible to fill out a form that gets submitted to the Navy Medical Board. they will then review it, and advise on:

1. If I would pass/fail the medical with current eyesight levels.
2. If I were to get laser surgery, then what forms I should get.

She said she is sending me the forms today, along with an information pack and DVD etc for joining as an Officer.

I am assuming others here would like to hear the outcomes of this?

Feel free to comment etc.

Aye,
Rock

[Wee Willy Winkie]

aye that's right, i would. im in the same postion as you bud just a bit younger so any info is appreciated W.W.W

[HardRock]

Hey WWW,

Just out of curiosity, whats your prescription?

Aye,
Rock

[Bliartheliar]

Ive been thinking about it for some time. I dont want to go through the rest of my life with glasses or contacts, but laser surgery is expensive and not 100% fool proof. If the AFCO guarenteed me that it would not affect my application, id go for it. At the moment though its not worth the risk.

[johnno2004]

im thinking the same i start foundation next monday and dont want to be stuck in glasses my whole life so iam having a serious think about getting it done in the future

[james_m]

Yea, I would also be very interested in the outcome!
My prescription is -2.00 in both eyes which I did not think was that bad!

What is your prescription Rock?

Good Work!!
Cheers
James_m

[HardRock]

Hi James_m,
-2 is not bad at all mate, mine is -6!!!

When talking to the laser surgery, they said they can treat up to -10!!!!
I mean I cant see hardly anything without my lenses!

Bliar, Johnno,
I agree with you completely, hence the reason for me trying to get some solid clarity on the situation. Although laser surgery is not 100% fool proof, I have yet to hear of or meet anyone that has had unsuccessful treatment. I have had 6 friends have their eyes lasered, and only one had to go back for a second treatment (her eyes were so bad she had to wear glasses AND contacts!). I am considering going with Ultralase (if i am able to that is) my friend went with them, and although expensive, he said they were brilliant.

In all fairness, put a price on your eyesight?

I will keep you all informed!

Rock

[flo]

Quite a few of the guys out here have had lasex surgery it is not as expensive as other options and they have had no problems. I intend to have mine done next month so will let you know how i get on. I also remember one marine officer who had it done in Bristol, but they would only do one eye at a time, but i dont know what kind of surgery he had?

[chris78290]

i've had it done and have had no problems with my sight since, however one thing I was told my CAAMB before my surgery was that although clinics will carry out the procedure on up to -10 there is a minimum level you must be before the procedure for the military to consider you. You have to fall into the lowest limit of the S3 category otherwise there is no point getting it done because you WILL NOT get in. Just a heads up as they are not very good at giving all the info unless its squeezed out of them.

[Wee Willy Winkie]

not sure hardrock, but its no worse than -4.00 in each eye. ive always just had nightmares that you try to correct your eyesight and something goes wrong leading you to become totally blind, and if you have the surgery when your young, being blind limits your job opportunities just a tad! also this thing where you cant have had surgery something like 7-8 years prior to applying which would severely hault my career. W.W.W

[markthestab]

if you think you might scrape through the medical id try without getting it done first and then if you fail go back in six months with it done

and BTL you must have passed a medical to get to do the prmc, if it aint broke dont fix it

even in my very limited experiance as a sprog stab i can tell you that there are so many myths on regulations that even front line recruiters wont know all the facts, check it out and make absolutly sure, once your in you can do what you want

[HardRock]

Mark,

This is the purpose of the form the lady is sending me, I basically get my optician to chuck all my details on it, the med board will assess it, and then advise on where I stand. Its not going through my local AFCO.

Cheers,
Rock

[GGHT]

-2 is not bad at all mate, mine is -6!!!


Rock

Hmm that's what I swear my optician said I was, but he put it in layman's terms of "your slightly short sighted in your right eye." I don't need glases but was a little concerned about the eye test.

He checked it out in a booklet he had on service requirement's and said I should be fine. My eyesight is definatley better on some days than others though, despite what the optiican said. Amount of sleep, reading etc.

[HardRock]

I received the forms today!
Now the forms appear to be just coded 'E' (E1-E4).
They are basically just a data capture, and a form to be signed by your optician clarifying your Visual Standard, with the highest being S1, lowest S3 (I think these have been mentioned elsewhere) Now in order to pass the eyesight you MUST be of AT LEAST S3, and greater than this, and its a bar.

OK, In short, everyone here, as far as I am aware has their eyesight 100% corrected (or more) by their lenses, so thats fine.

Now, the important part:
Visual Acquity to be achieved WITHOUT lenses
Right Eye: 6/60
Left Eye: <6/60
So what does this mean?
Ok a lot of people assume that this means you must be able to read the top letter of the letter chart your opticians use, this is incorrect, this is basically 6/42.

And just for the record, the 6/60 is the standard for being classed as legally blind

Also note:
Your refraction limit cannot be greater than 6 in any meridian (+/-)
This will be on your prescription (mine is -5.5)

Yet to get some clarity on the laser surgery front as they will advise me once I have returned this form.

Aye,
Rock

EDIT: Just thought i would add, some jobs require greater standard to be achieved, the complete list is at:
http://www.assoc-optometrists.org/uploa ... 4-navy.pdf

[GGHT]

I can definatley read most, bottom couple if I squint.
I can remember reading the whole thing with ease when I was 16.

Apparentley your eyes don't "stop" growing until your 21.