Page 1 of 2

Bad eyesight a problem. Any solutions?

Posted: Wed 19 Jan, 2005 3:32 pm
by GJimbo
Just got off the phone with the AFCO chap. I explained that my left eye is shorted sighted and can not be corrected with lenses. He told me that there is an high failure rate for the eye examination, and that I could possibly fail it.

My question is, would it be possible to cheat the test or improve my eyesight somehow? I'd really hate to start of a new career cheating, but it seems like it maybe the only way to pass the eyesight test. My right eye is perfect, and I have absolutely no problems with both eyes, its just as I have said, my left eye is slightly short sighted.

I'd hate to fail on something so minor. I don't know what to do :cry:

Posted: Wed 19 Jan, 2005 3:38 pm
by beardo
when you go in the medical room memorise the chart before you sit down...Our lot had to do the 6th row down..but it might be different now.....about 4 people said they couldnt read it at all...but got through by reading it before (its usually behind you and you read it through a mirror)...its quite hard ive got pretty good eyesight and i was squinting a bit

Might not do you any good though....it might ''pop up'' again sometime and you'll feel a right dick telling them you cheated

Posted: Wed 19 Jan, 2005 3:51 pm
by Gazza85
Why cant it be corrected with lenses? or is it that it can but the prescription is more than -7?

Posted: Wed 19 Jan, 2005 4:50 pm
by GJimbo
TBH, I am wondering if my "new" opticians made an error. I recently changed from Boots to Spectsavers. The person that examined me said that glasses will do very little to improve my left eyesight, and that I won't be accepted anywhere in the military. This is why I called the RM's.

When I was with Boots, this never came up. They said it was possible for me to pass the RM examination. BTW, I was also very tired when I went for my last examination. I wonder if this could have affected my results :-?

I really don't want to cheat the eye examination, but if it's the only thing that is going to let me down, I see no other choice, especially when, in a pratical sense, my eyesight seems perfectly fine. I have never experienced any problems when not wearing glasses (never worn glasses).

Anyway, thank you for your advice so far guys :wink:

Posted: Wed 19 Jan, 2005 10:22 pm
by jay999
I have a similar problem as you accpet mine is in my right eye. im not sure of my prescription though ithink it might be -6.15 or something along those lines. I was once told it was not to be a problem but i am scared it may become one if what you say is true.

Posted: Wed 19 Jan, 2005 10:31 pm
by CrouchmasterT
GJimbo wrote:TBH, I am wondering if my "new" opticians made an error. I recently changed from Boots to Spectsavers. The person that examined me said that glasses will do very little to improve my left eyesight, and that I won't be accepted anywhere in the military. This is why I called the RM's.
When I originally applied for the RN i failed the medical due to uncorrectable eyesight, I waited months too see the specialist who then just said that my prescription was wrong and that my eye sight was fine :evil:

Posted: Thu 20 Jan, 2005 12:12 am
by GJimbo
I have just been reading this http://www.monoptica.com/monoptica/prac ... .asp?ID=15. Does anyone know which Standard is for the Royal Marines. I am hoping it is Standard III, because that would mean I should get past the eye examination, even though my left I can not be corrected with lenses.

BTW, my left eye is 6/9 (20/30).

Sorry to hear that crouchmastert. What did you do after the specialist contacted you?

Posted: Thu 20 Jan, 2005 12:15 am
by cosmo
howcome the forces don't let people in who have had laser eye surgery??

Posted: Thu 20 Jan, 2005 12:23 am
by Gazza85
It can cause halos and star bursts when looking at lights eg headlights, and more importantly it can fark up your nightvision

Posted: Thu 20 Jan, 2005 12:26 am
by Gazza85
Also i have just been on that website and gone on the Army eyesight requirements. What the hell is 7/1 and 7/6. Does that mean it needs to be within pulheems 7?

Posted: Thu 20 Jan, 2005 1:10 am
by Louis
.........

Posted: Thu 20 Jan, 2005 1:27 pm
by CrouchmasterT
I had to go see a civilian doctor in a hospital in portsmouth, it took him about 20 seconds to work out my prescription was wrong and i passed fine.

I had an eye test the other day, and the optician said i make standards 2 and 1A and i'd have a chance at standard 1. :)

Posted: Thu 20 Jan, 2005 1:44 pm
by Gazza85
I am standard III in my right eye and standard II in my left, with my glasses on i can see at 6 meters what normal people can see at 5 eg with glasses my eyes are better than 6/6 AKA 20/20

Posted: Sun 30 Jan, 2005 5:29 pm
by 42
you can join having had laser eye surgery

Posted: Sun 30 Jan, 2005 5:58 pm
by beardo
I got told you cant join by the doctor doing the medical