Stealth,
I respect that your son has gone through the program and the experience you have derived from that, but I will not back down on this, as I know my information is from credible sources. First here's an excerpt from the Falcon Family News from September 2008. this is from Lt. Col Christopher McNulty:
"Message From Medical Group
Two other programs deserve special mention. First, through the Medical Flight Screening program, Cadet Standards works with USAFA’s Laser Refractive Eye Surgery Center to arrange for cadet pilot candidates with significant visual refractive errors to receive corrective Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) eye surgery on an expedited basis. This outstanding program allows cadets who are otherwise disqualified from flying due to excessive refractive errors, to become pilot qualified before graduation.
On average, the USAFA enables 125 or more cadets to receive PRK each year, and most of these do become pilot qualified! Secondly, Cadet Standards works with Headquarters Air Education and Training Command and the Cadet Wing to manage the program for cadets who don’t meet Air Force anthropometric requirements (height, reach, and weight) for functional cockpit checks. Cadets are flown to various AF bases where their ability to manage cockpits and flight decks in a variety of airframes is assessed, thereby allowing those cadets to become pilot qualified in specific types of Air Force aircraft. Cadet Standards processes Medical Flight Screening packages for over half of the Air Force’s pilot candidates each year. Last year, Cadet Standards provided the Air Force with 685 cadets and their completed Medical Flight Screening packages. My staff and I are very busy, but I can’t think of a better job in the Air Force. Working with our cadets, and seeing them realize their dreams to fly is exciting and humbling. Also, encouraging cadets who are not pilot qualified, and showing them that they too can have a significant impact in today’s Air Force in a variety of challenging positions has been a truly rewarding experience for me. It is an honor and a privilege to work with these young men and women. Please let me know if you have any questions at:
christopher.mcnulty@usafa.af.mill"
Here's the article link
http://www.usafa.edu/superintendent/cma/newsletters/2008/08 Sep.pdf It's on pages 3 and 4.
This says "the USAFA enables 125 or more cadets to receive PRK each year" Considering each class is around 1,000 graduating, 125 is about 12.5% of graduates receiving PRK. This is where I got my number for 10%.
My second piece of evidence comes directly from an email with the Optometry Flight Commander (10 AMDS/SGPO) from the Air Force Academy:
"Thank you for considering the USAF Academy.
I’ll give you some general answers with the understanding that some of the outcomes depend on the individual.
As far as the magnitude of your spectacle prescription (-6.00/-5.25), if it stays stable in that range you would be a potential candidate for the USAFA PRK surgery for cadets. For cadets who are able to proceed w/ the PRK there’s a very high likelihood that they will be granted a PRK waiver for aviation.
A few things to keep in mind.
First, about 10% of our PRK candidates are removed from consideration, mostly due to corneal issues and unstable prescriptions. Second, there are a number of other eye/vision factors involved in becoming medically pilot qualified. Some of the top items would be depth perception, color vision and eye health.
The eye/vision portion of your aviation physical would take place during your sophomore yr at the Academy. It would be VERY important to not jump the gun and try to get refractive surgery prior to your aviation physical.
Please let me know if you have additional questions that I can help you with. I believe the USAF Academy is a great place to get an education and a great start as you move into adult life and into a career. Best of luck on your application and we hope to see you here next year.
Lt Col Nelson"
This says that about 10% of candidates for PRK wash out because of certain eye conditions. This would mean that the number of candidates who are able to go through with the surgery is about 90%. Again, this is my source for those numbers. I think the procedure for getting PRK is much different than it is for the class of 2011. I'm definitely not saying that everyone who wants it can get it, but PRK seems to be a much larger possibility nowadays. I'm not trying to start an argument, but I will not back down on informing fellow candidates of the possibilities of PRK at the USAFA. I just wanted to let everyone with eye issues see some firsthand information that could help with the process. Hope this helps.