AFROTC and Lasik surgery

[Bluedevil20]

I am going to be starting my freshman year of college in the fall and I am planning to participate in AFROTC. My eyesight is pretty bad and I am planning to get Lasik done before I start college. I've already scheduled appointments to start the process. I know that it is not a big issue anymore to get corrective eye surgery and still be able to hold any position in the Air Force. My concern is whether I should wait to get it done. I have seen other threads that are geared more towards people who are already in college saying that they should wait till their junior year, but I couldn't find any pertaining to people just going into college. So should I go on and continue with the procedure, or will there be setbacks I could encounter in ROTC and I should wait it out for a couple years?

 

[kinnem]

Until (some age) in your twenties, your eyes keep changing shape, etc. It's best to wait. You might also speak to someone in your unit about what they recommend. Everything really needs to go well when its done and most folks going to an Academy have AF do it while in the academy to avoid hassles. @Pima could probably shed more light on this topic for you. Or you could ask over in DoDMERB to get more expert advice.

 

[Bluedevil20]

Thank you for replying! I'll definitely check in with the people in charge at my university. My prescription hasn't changed for the past 2 years at least so I think I've hit the maturity level for my eyes (if everything I've read during research is true). I understand waiting if that isn't fully the case yet. I've also been under the assumption that through ROTC the AF won't cover it or have anything to do with the procedure until I commission. If I get confirmation that my eyes are matured, and I am a good candidate for Lasik, I want to go along with the procedure unless it will cause issues in the future if I end up committing to the AF. If that is the case then I can be patient enough to wait, but so far most of the benefits I've seen by the AF taking care of it would be paying for it, which is nice, but not something that is a priority for me. (I'm sorry if I misinterpreted what you were trying to say)

 

[kinnem]

You have the right thinking. Make sure you understand any future issues prior to proceeding.

 

[Pima]

Are you on scholarship? If so, than you need to inform them because that is a change in your medical status.

My husband flew fighters for 21+ yrs. Our DS is now an ADAF pilot (heavies) that commissioned from the same AFROTC det as his Dad.
Our DS wanted to do Lasik/PRK surgery, he was considered on the cusp for the surgery, iows it was more of an elective option. DS was AFROTC scholarship. He was on his way to get his PPL when he entered ROTC as a freshmen and knew he wanted to get a pilot slot out of ROTC.
This is what my DH said to him:
~~ You don't mess with your eyes unless you have to. It is a risk.

DS pleaded with us, and we kept saying NO since his vision met ADAF standards for pilots. However, we agreed that we would allow him, but only following the same as USAFA. USAFA makes them wait until they turn 20.
~ As Kinnem stated eyes change.
That summer after he returned from SFT and before he went back to school he went to the eye doc. Guess What? His eyes indeed had changed and he was no longer on the cusp. The doc said that he did not feel like he was a candidate bc he really didn't need it anymore. Will he need it in the future? Probably. However, at that time it will be on the AF's dime, approved by an AF flight doc.

AFROTC will not pay for it, whereas, USAFA will. This is out of pocket and on your own dime.

One other tidbit. DS thanked us. He did all of the research regarding docs. His friend in the det. went to a very famous eye doc. A doc that works on professional athletes. Unfortunately for that cadet, as with any surgery it has risks. Long story short, his eyes would now not meet the FC1 physical for pilots, so he got a CSO slot instead.

 

[MullenLE]

Your Professor of Air Science will be equipped to provide you the options and administrative consequences as it would relate to your contract and medical status.

This is the medical standard DoDMERB will apply:

(3) Corneal refractive surgery performed with an excimer or femtosecond laser, including but not limited to photorefractive keratectomy, laser epithelial keratomileusis, laser assisted in situ keratomileusis, and small incision lenticule extraction, if any of the following conditions are met: (a) Pre-surgical refractive error in either eye exceeded a spherical equivalent of +8.00 or -8.00 diopters. (b) Pre-surgical astigmatism exceeded 3.00 diopters. (c) Within 180 days of accession medical examination. (d) Complications, ongoing medications, ophthalmic solutions, or any other therapeutic interventions required beyond 180 days of procedure. (e) Post-surgical refraction in each eye is not stable as demonstrated by at least two separate refractions at least 1 month apart, with initial refraction at least 90 days post-procedure, and the most recent of which demonstrates either more than +/- 0.50 diopters difference for spherical vision or more than +/- 0.50 diopters for cylinder vision.

 

[Bluedevil20]

Are you on scholarship? If so, than you need to inform them because that is a change in your medical status.

My husband flew fighters for 21+ yrs. Our DS is now an ADAF pilot (heavies) that commissioned from the same AFROTC det as his Dad.
Our DS wanted to do Lasik/PRK surgery, he was considered on the cusp for the surgery, iows it was more of an elective option. DS was AFROTC scholarship. He was on his way to get his PPL when he entered ROTC as a freshmen and knew he wanted to get a pilot slot out of ROTC.
This is what my DH said to him:
~~ You don't mess with your eyes unless you have to. It is a risk.

DS pleaded with us, and we kept saying NO since his vision met ADAF standards for pilots. However, we agreed that we would allow him, but only following the same as USAFA. USAFA makes them wait until they turn 20.
~ As Kinnem stated eyes change.
That summer after he returned from SFT and before he went back to school he went to the eye doc. Guess What? His eyes indeed had changed and he was no longer on the cusp. The doc said that he did not feel like he was a candidate bc he really didn't need it anymore. Will he need it in the future? Probably. However, at that time it will be on the AF's dime, approved by an AF flight doc.

AFROTC will not pay for it, whereas, USAFA will. This is out of pocket and on your own dime.

One other tidbit. DS thanked us. He did all of the research regarding docs. His friend in the det. went to a very famous eye doc. A doc that works on professional athletes. Unfortunately for that cadet, as with any surgery it has risks. Long story short, his eyes would now not meet the FC1 physical for pilots, so he got a CSO slot instead.

No, I'm not on scholarship. Thank you for the info. After reading what you and Kinnem have said, I'm definitely more apprehensive about going on with it at this moment. I'll probably still reach out to my detachment to see what they say about the issue just as a precaution, but if there is any chance of it causing problems I'll hold off on it. Thank you again for the reply!

 

[kevster]

The eyes are big deal when competing/applying for a Pilot Slot in AFROTC. Pima's answer is spot on (and she was a huge help to me when I was in ROTC asking the same questions). I had PRK done (end of 2012) when I contracted after FT. At the time, eye surgery was an auto-DQ for pilot candidates if you had it done PRIOR to contracting. If you submitted paperwork and had it done after contracting everything was all good to go. You don't mention any interest in rated slots right but I would hate for you to limit your options.

In terms of the actual surgery it was awesome. I was a good candidate and my eyes are still better than 20/20. I did lots of research for my cadre freshman year and essentially presented them with my "plan" for it all. They were great and everything went according to the plan we built. Long story short - PRK/LASIK is great, but I highly recommend you wait until you get a good idea of what you want to get out of the AF.

 

[thibaud]

Surgery is always risky. LASIK = operating on healthy tissue. You're taking a risk. Is it really necessary?

 

[unkown1961]

Your Professor of Air Science will be equipped to provide you the options and administrative consequences as it would relate to your contract and medical status.

This is the medical standard DoDMERB will apply:

(3) Corneal refractive surgery performed with an excimer or femtosecond laser, including but not limited to photorefractive keratectomy, laser epithelial keratomileusis, laser assisted in situ keratomileusis, and small incision lenticule extraction, if any of the following conditions are met: (a) Pre-surgical refractive error in either eye exceeded a spherical equivalent of +8.00 or -8.00 diopters. (b) Pre-surgical astigmatism exceeded 3.00 diopters. (c) Within 180 days of accession medical examination. (d) Complications, ongoing medications, ophthalmic solutions, or any other therapeutic interventions required beyond 180 days of procedure. (e) Post-surgical refraction in each eye is not stable as demonstrated by at least two separate refractions at least 1 month apart, with initial refraction at least 90 days post-procedure, and the most recent of which demonstrates either more than +/- 0.50 diopters difference for spherical vision or more than +/- 0.50 diopters for cylinder vision.

Is this still the standard? Thanks.