Uncorrected vision and surgery

[pilot2b]

Quick question: When the requirements to be pilot qualified vision-wise state 20/40 uncorrected (Navy/Marines) or 20/70 uncorrected (AF), can you be worse than those numbers uncorrected as long as you get corrective surgery that gets your eyes up to 20/20? Or do you need to meet those numbers uncorrected before you get surgery in order to be pilot qualified?

 

[Eagle 1]

This question had me confused for about two years but the bottom line is you just need to be correctable to 20/20. There are some other medical requirements behind it, but being 20/40 or 20/70 doesn't have anything to do with it.

For example, my vision is about 20/100 and I've been approved for LASIK once I get back from field training this summer. I will be competing for a pilot slot.

Edit:
From the AFROTC website (http://www.afrotc.com/help-center/faqs/scholarships/#q_14):

The refractive error in each eye cannot exceed +/- 8.00 diopters. Also, both eyes must be free of any disfiguring or incapacitating abnormality and acute or chronic disease. A history of corneal surgical procedures such as radial keratotomy (RK), even if refractive error improves, disqualifies you for Air Force ROTC. EXCEPTION: A history of photo refractive keratectomy (PRK) does not automatically disqualify you from entry; however, certain criteria must be met before being medically certified. Adequate color vision is a prerequisite to entry into many Air Force specialties.

Don't know about Navy, but I think it's the same.

 

[pilot2b]

Much appreciated Eagle 1.

 

[kp2001]

Navy is the same within a few standards. One is that the surgery must have been performed by a military ophthalmologist if you are ROTC/Academy/currently in the service. You also still have to be within the commissioning range of +/-8.00 diopters prior to surgery.

The 20/40 standard is for what your vision is at the time of application.