Vision questions

futureusna

5-Year Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2011
Messages
87
my vision is less than perfect, if I fail the vision test for DoDMERB am I automatically deemed unqualified for USMA or do I just get eyewear ASAP???

and could I possible get a waiver for this???

Please Help
 
my vision is less than perfect, if I fail the vision test for DoDMERB am I automatically deemed unqualified for USMA or do I just get eyewear ASAP???

and could I possible get a waiver for this???

Please Help

If you fail the eye test you will be disqualified. Waivers are issued by each Service Academy separately based on whether or not they want you/deem you a competitive candidate.
 
Don't understand what you mean by "eyewear." If you mean glasses or contacts, you should get them if you need them to see.

The military tests your uncorrected vision. The fact you are correctable to 20/20 is a good thing but is not determinative. Whether you do or don't own/wear glasses (vs. having bad vision without choosing to wear glasses) is irrelevant to your DODMERB exam and chances for a waiver.

Do NOT go out and have eye surgery. They will not only "count" your vision prior to the surgery but, for some SAs, having LASIK or other corrective surgery can actually reduce your chances for a waiver.
 
I am REALLY confused!! I do not have any trouble seeing doing everything things (reading..ect..) but I have trouble when it comes to vision tests, what should I do???

sorry for the questions but I want to make sure I go about everything in the right way
 
I am REALLY confused!! I do not have any trouble seeing doing everything things (reading..ect..) but I have trouble when it comes to vision tests, what should I do???

sorry for the questions but I want to make sure I go about everything in the right way

I don't know how you could have good vision and fail a vision test. :confused:

Regardless, if you fail the test then you fail it and those are the results DoDMERB will use when determining if you are qualified or not.
 
The most important thing is if you are correctable to 20/20. They can determine this during the eye exam.

Also, you can just straight up contact DoDMERB with this question:
1-800-841-2706 -- Open 0700 - 1600 MST Monday - Friday
Email: helpdesk@dodmerb.tma.osd.mil
 
Hi Eagle 1. Your last comment about needing to be correctable to 20/20. My DS was told by his eye doctor that he has 20/25 vision and that it is not correctable. Are there waivers for this? He knows he could never fly but still very much would like to be in the Marines. Are we wasting our time applying to USNA?
 
Personally I don't see why he wouldn't be good in a non-rated position, but my best advice would be to just contact DoDMERB directly.

Unfortunately I can't give any official advice as everything is on a case-by-case basis. I can tell you my personal opinion, but I'm not an expert on the matter. I'm a cadet as well and just trying to pass along the information that I can from past experiences with DoDMERB.
 
I don't know how you could have good vision and fail a vision test. :confused:

Regardless, if you fail the test then you fail it and those are the results DoDMERB will use when determining if you are qualified or not.

The optometrist called it a "slight correction"

My vision (i think) is 20/30 or 20/40
 
Go in, take the test, and find out. Seriously, you never know.

I have strabismus and high astigmatism, making my vision 20/200 in one eye and 20/400 in the other. Internet research said I'd be disqualified for strabismus and astigmatism.

DoDMERB ignored the strabismus and disqualified me for astigmatism. I got a waiver. I got my appointment and everything is fine and dandy; I sent in my acceptance paperwork today and will be there for I-Day 2016.

Internet research is as reliable as the internet itself. Let the doctors decide. They know what they're doing.
 
Go in, take the test, and find out. Seriously, you never know.

I have strabismus and high astigmatism, making my vision 20/200 in one eye and 20/400 in the other. Internet research said I'd be disqualified for strabismus and astigmatism.

DoDMERB ignored the strabismus and disqualified me for astigmatism. I got a waiver. I got my appointment and everything is fine and dandy; I sent in my acceptance paperwork today and will be there for I-Day 2016.

Internet research is as reliable as the internet itself. Let the doctors decide. They know what they're doing.

Couldn't have said it better.
 
Hi Eagle 1. Your last comment about needing to be correctable to 20/20. My DS was told by his eye doctor that he has 20/25 vision and that it is not correctable. Are there waivers for this? He knows he could never fly but still very much would like to be in the Marines. Are we wasting our time applying to USNA?

Department of Defense Standard according to DoDI 6130.03, April 2010, incorporating change Sept '11.

5. VISION
a. Current distant visual acuity of any degree that does not correct with spectacle lenses to at
least one of the following (367):
(1) 20/40 in one eye and 20/70 in the other eye (369.75).
(2) 20/30 in one eye and 20/100 in the other eye (369.75).
(3) 20/20 in one eye and 20/400 in the other eye (369.73).
b. Current near visual acuity of any degree that does not correct to 20/40 in the better eye
(367.1-367.32).
c. Current refractive error (hyperopia (367.0), myopia (367.1), astigmatism (367.2x)), in
excess of -8.00 or +8.00 diopters spherical equivalent or astigmatism in excess of 3.00 diopters.
d. Any condition requiring contact lenses for adequate correction of vision, such as corneal
scars and opacities (370.0x) and irregular astigmatism (367.22)

These could result in a disqualification by DoDMERB. Please understand, each academy will use additional service specific standards as well.

For the Army,

AR 40-501 states:


2–13. Vision
a. Current distant visual acuity of any degree that does not correct with spectacle lenses to at least one of the
following does not meet the standard:
(1) 20/40 in one eye and 20/70 in the other eye.
(2) 20/30 in one eye and 20/100 in the other eye.
(3) 20/20 in one eye and 20/400 in the other eye.

9b. However, for entrance into USMA or ROTC, distant visual acuity that does not correct to 20/20 in one eye and
20/40 in the other eye does not meet the standard. For entrance into OCS, distant visual acuity that does not correct to
20/20 in one eye and 20/100 in the other eye does not meet the standard.
c. Current near visual acuity of any degree that does not correct to 20/40 in the better eye does not meet the
standard.
d. Current refractive error (hyperopia (367.0), myopia (367.1), astigmatism (367.2)), or history of refractive error
prior to any refractive surgery manifest by any refractive error in spherical equivalent of worse than -8.00 or +8.00
diopters does not meet the standard. However, for entrance into USMA or Army ROTC programs, the following
conditions do not meet the standard:
(1) Astigmatism, all types over 3 diopters.
(2) Hyperopia over 8.00 diopters spherical equivalent.
(3) Myopia over 8 diopters spherical equivalent.

Thus, USMA/ROTC requires a higher vision standard than OCS or enlistment. Not sure about the Navy/USNA/NROTC standards.

Knowing this, my recommendation is to just do it. All they can do is say "no."
 
if I fail the vision test wont that DQ me???

Yes, but you will not have a chance at getting in without taking the exam. It is not an option.

We all have thing's we're scared will DQ us during our exam. For me it was migraine headaches. I've seen posts on this forum about people being DQ'd for headaches, and these people had very similar symptoms to mine. I knew that my migraine headaches could cause an issue going into the exam, and sure enough, after the test they requested a remedial for my headaches. Thankfully, they accepted my remedial and now I'm qualified. How I was qualified when the other candidates weren't? I have no idea. But, had I not taken my DoDMERB exam out of fear that my headaches would DQ me, I wouldn't have ever found out.

The point is, if you want this, you need to be willing to do what it takes to get it. Part of that requirement is taking the DoDMERB exam. Good luck, I hope you do well! :smile:
 
should I get glasses/contacts prior the the exam???

It might be convenient to do both at the same time (if the mandated exam office has good prices/takes your insurance/etc.).

It's important to realize that needing correction doesn't equal "failing" the eye exam- there's a whole range of needs-correction-but-still-passes in there.
 
It's important to realize that needing correction doesn't equal "failing" the eye exam- there's a whole range of needs-correction-but-still-passes in there.

I was told a year or two that i needed a slight correction
 
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