Medical Waivers and Laser Retinopexy?

[Horatio]

Hello!

This is my first time posting on this forum, and I have a scenario that I wanted to hear some consultation about. I am applying to USAFA atm, and I got the following DQ when I took my eye exam for DoDMERB:
"D155.70 Myopia - refractive error greater than -8.00 diopters (spherical equivalent)"

The doctor who I performed my initial eye exam (for DoDMERB) with suggested that I get further consultation regarding my eyes, because he said he noticed thin spots on my retina. After about a week or so I went to a nearby eye center and had an appointment where the doctor there told me that I would be needing laser retinopexy in both eyes. So immediately I had them done one eye after the next in the subsequent weeks. It was after this that when I checked my DoDMETS account did I notice that I was being asked for remedials.

Having complete the remedials, they updated my status to:
"D155.70 Myopia - refractive error greater than -8.00 diopters (spherical equivalent)
D153.00 Current or history of any abnormality of the retina, choroid, or vitreous"

Right after I took the remedials I sent in my Medical Records regarding the Laser Retinopexy, which mainly said that everything went well. At the moment there are no issues regarding any of my eyes, but I'm just wondering what my chances at getting a medical waiver are.

Thanks so much for reading.

 

[Hodge]

I'm not too familiar with the medical wavier process but as far as I know if you had it corrected then it shouldn't be a wavier unless the procedure is considered a waviered procedure. I would definitely call DODMERB and try to get qualified so you don't have to worry about a wavier as they are few and hard to come by. Remember remedial and wavier are completely different. A remedial can if fact make you qualified if it's found that problem is in fact not a problem, etc.

 

[kp2001]

I'm going to give you the straight scoop....this is going to be tough to overcome.

Your Rx puts you at high risk for retinal tears and detachments. The fact that someone recommended you have a laser retinopexy means they had significant concern of a tear or detachment occurring at any moment. (Or possibly that one already existed.)

Given that you are still at higher risk of tears and detachments than the "normal" person and this is where the military is going to take pause.

I'm not saying it will be impossivle, just that it's going to be an uphill battle.

 

[Usafamom2016]

Perhaps you should ask this question in the DODMERB forum.