AFROTC PRK Surgery -- HELP PLEASE

[USAFA2021]

Hey everyone I have a couple questions that I can't seem to have answered.

I am currently in my sophomore year of AFROTC about to go to Field Training this Summer, and it is at this point in my ROTC career that the NCO's tell me I am disqualified for RATED because of my vision. Now, the thing is am correctable to 20/20 both eyes both near and far but I just don't know when to start the process to proceed with PRK surgery. I understand that I can't go to Field Training so it would have to be after because of having to be on MRS . I also heard that there is a 6-MONTH MRS timing that i have to complete. Now my main qestion is, the information sheet I was given states I cant be on MRS and go to my flight physical....BUT can my package meet the boards while still on the 6-months MRS period ?

Also when do packages get sent in for the RATED boards and when do the flight physicals usually occur ?? For timing purposes.

Do you know anyone who has been through a similar situation ???

ANY help on this process would be REALLY appreciated. Thank you!!

 

[Tbpxece]

Wright-Patt has a good page on USAF policy regarding optical corrective surgery here. It's targeted towards active members, but the policies would still apply. Start there.

Have a good understanding of the current AF policies before approaching your cadre, as they might not be up-to-date on the most current policy.

 

[kinnem]

What did the officers in your unit tell you?

 

[USAFA2021]

Wright-Patt has a good page on USAF policy regarding optical corrective surgery here. It's targeted towards active members, but the policies would still apply. Start there.

Have a good understanding of the current AF policies before approaching your cadre, as they might not be up-to-date on the most current policy.

Wow! Thank you for the link. I appreciate it!

 

[Pima]

If you use the search tab here there are many cadets that went through PRK.
~ USAFA will do it as a rising C2C. Eyes can change and docs usually want to wait until the age of 20 for the surgery.

I won't swear, but I want to say they got it done late Aug before they returned to school so that they would be out of the 6 mos issue.
~ Rated boards meet in end of Feb/early Mar.

If you get a pilot slot, you will be sent to WPAFB for 3 days. They will check everything not only to the AF regs, but the FAA FC1 code. This means nose to toes. It is dental, it is heart, it is eyes, ears, throat, bend over and cough. Your last physical will be with a flight surgeon just for a glance over and review the results.
~ IE maybe something is not jigging and they want to give a 2nd look 1st hand as a flt surgeon.

Finally, before we go down this rabbit hole some more things to ponder.
1. Do you have any flight hours under your belt? Are you tech? Your cgpa?
~ I get you want pilot, but even if you get your eyes fixed it doesn't equate to getting a pilot slot.
~~ No flight hrs, non tech and 3.0 cgpa will harm you. Along with how you rank out of SFT.
2. AFROTC cadets must pay out of pocket for the surgery unlike USAFA cadets.
~ Have you discussed this with your folks regarding their insurance policy they carry? We have what is considered a "Cadillac" insurance plan, but PRK could in your scenario be considered elective, and it could cost thousands.
3. When was the last time you went for an eye check?
~ Our DS has an astigmatism as an 18 yr old. He begged and pleaded for us to allow him to do PRK, he was on the cusp. WE REFUSED. His Dad was an F15E WSO and was adamant that the last thing you screw with is your eyes. We took him to an eye specialist spring break soph year, (back up paperwork to fight if there was an issue). The doc said he is good to go, and would not do the surgery. WPAFB agreed, He is an ADAF pilot and never had the surgery.

I wish you the best.

 

[USAFA2021]

If you use the search tab here there are many cadets that went through PRK.
~ USAFA will do it as a rising C2C. Eyes can change and docs usually want to wait until the age of 20 for the surgery.

I won't swear, but I want to say they got it done late Aug before they returned to school so that they would be out of the 6 mos issue.
~ Rated boards meet in end of Feb/early Mar.

If you get a pilot slot, you will be sent to WPAFB for 3 days. They will check everything not only to the AF regs, but the FAA FC1 code. This means nose to toes. It is dental, it is heart, it is eyes, ears, throat, bend over and cough. Your last physical will be with a flight surgeon just for a glance over and review the results.
~ IE maybe something is not jigging and they want to give a 2nd look 1st hand as a flt surgeon.

Finally, before we go down this rabbit hole some more things to ponder.
1. Do you have any flight hours under your belt? Are you tech? Your cgpa?
~ I get you want pilot, but even if you get your eyes fixed it doesn't equate to getting a pilot slot.
~~ No flight hrs, non tech and 3.0 cgpa will harm you. Along with how you rank out of SFT.
2. AFROTC cadets must pay out of pocket for the surgery unlike USAFA cadets.
~ Have you discussed this with your folks regarding their insurance policy they carry? We have what is considered a "Cadillac" insurance plan, but PRK could in your scenario be considered elective, and it could cost thousands.
3. When was the last time you went for an eye check?
~ Our DS has an astigmatism as an 18 yr old. He begged and pleaded for us to allow him to do PRK, he was on the cusp. WE REFUSED. His Dad was an F15E WSO and was adamant that the last thing you screw with is your eyes. We took him to an eye specialist spring break soph year, (back up paperwork to fight if there was an issue). The doc said he is good to go, and would not do the surgery. WPAFB agreed, He is an ADAF pilot and never had the surgery.

I wish you the best.

First off thank you very much for the reply. I really appreciate it.

1. I currently have 14 hours under my belt and I am currently working on obtaining more. My CGPA is a 3.82.
2. Yes, my parents have supported me on this AF road since I was very young, they are onboard with me going through PRK. My father actually had the surgery himself couple years ago.
3. I have a high astigmatism- last time I had an eye check was actually with a LASIK/PRK Opmthamologist this past Saturday. My eye's are healthy and correctable to 20/20 both near and far.

 

[Pima]

First off thank you very much for the reply. I really appreciate it.

1. I currently have 14 hours under my belt and I am currently working on obtaining more. My CGPA is a 3.82.
2. Yes, my parents have supported me on this AF road since I was very young, they are onboard with me going through PRK. My father actually had the surgery himself couple years ago.
3. I have a high astigmatism- last time I had an eye check was actually with a LASIK/PRK Opmthamologist this past Saturday. My eye's are healthy and correctable to 20/20 both near and far.

My best advice is to talk to your cadre. You are not the 1st nor will be the last that has considered this surgery.

Our DS wears glasses instead of the surgery because he was correctable to 20/20. Actually with glasses he is 20/15.

I am not saying don't have the surgery. I am saying there is a risk.

 

[Humey]

My son is at UPT right now and he also wear glasses when he flies. The AF gave him 7 pair of glasses when he showed up at his UPT base. Some of them were sunglasses and some were regular glasses. He went and got tested againt on base in order to not wear his glasses (he has good vision), but they denied him. They did tell him he should think about get his eyes fixed if he gets a fighter