Eyesight?

ballsy

5-Year Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2012
Messages
67
Hello everybody. I was recently awarded an AROTC scholarship, and am expecting to do the DoDMERB sometime soon. I have a few questions about my eyesight. I don't have anything worse than just bad vision (as far as I'm aware). I think my incorrectly vision is 20/100 or maybe a little worse like 20/120.

1.) I've seen that you shouldn't wear contacts 3 days before the exam. Can I wear my glasses?

2.) Should I bring my glasses and contacts? I plan on wearing my glasses because they have a stronger and more updated prescription.

3.) What's the worst uncorrected vision that someone can have?

4.) Kind of unrelated, but what should I be eating prior to the exam, as far as the urine test? More protein/sodium?
 
1.) I've seen that you shouldn't wear contacts 3 days before the exam. Can I wear my glasses?
Yes, please wear your spectacles, you don't need to be blind for 3 days.

2.) Should I bring my glasses and contacts? I plan on wearing my glasses because they have a stronger and more updated prescription.
You only need to take your spectacles. Don't bother bringing your contacts, in fact there are a few threads where people ONLY brought their contact lenses and ran into difficulty.

3.) What's the worst uncorrected vision that someone can have?
It's not the 20/XXX they are worried about, it is the actual prescription which is +/- 8.00 diopters (please double check the 8, I'm going off memory)

4.) Kind of unrelated, but what should I be eating prior to the exam, as far as the urine test? More protein/sodium?

Eat whatever you normally eat.
 
Congratulations on your scholarship! Here is my opinion on your questions:

1. Wearing glasses is no problem. I have glasses too and wore them to the exam. That shouldn't be an issue for you.

2. I don't think you need to bring contacts, especially if the prescription is weaker. I have contacts too, but I didn't bring them, and the optometrist didn't ask for them. It can't hurt to have them with you, though, just in case.

3. In my humble opinion, your vision won't be a problem. As long as you don't have any eye disorders (lazy eye, glaucoma, etc., etc.), I doubt that they will DQ you. This is coming from someone who passed his DoDMERB with worse vision than yours ;). If you become a pilot, they will likely provide laser surgery to correct your vision to 20/20.

Regarding a "lower limit," I know that the AFA requires vision within +/- 8.0 diopters, so I am guessing AFROTC is the same. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong.) 8.0 diopters is REALLY POOR vision--something like 20/700 :eek:.

4. Personally, I would NOT eat more protein prior to the exam. They will give you a urine test, and if you test positive for protein (as many athletes do), you will have a remedial exam to go to. These can be rather inconvenient, so in my opinion, it's better to play it safe and avoid protein and strenuous exercise a few days before the exam.

Again, best of luck to you, and great job on your success so far!
 
Thanks for the responses! I'm pretty sure my diopter thing is around 2.0 or something, at least that is what my contact box says haha
 
I think you are fine. Just make sure to follow DoDMERB's instructions (no wearing contact lenses 3 days prior, etc), and you should be OK :thumb:
 
One of the vision concerns is if you're correctable to 20/20. My son was 20/40, correctable to 20/25 and was DQed. Fortunately he was granted a waiver but boy were we nervous.


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