AFROTC PRK Surgery Timing

tuckthemuck

New Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2015
Messages
3
Hello Everyone,

Apologies if this has already been posted.
To start, my goal in life is to fly in the United States Air Force.
I am a cadet in AFROTC as an AS100(first year). My eyesight is pretty bad at -4.00, so I need laser eye surgery.
I found out recently that I am not a candidate for LASIK due to my corneas being of limited depth. That leaves PRK; the older and more painful method. I talked to several providers in my area and found out my eyesight is still changing and they will not perform PRK yet.
I heard winter break the summer before FT is the best time to get laser eye surgery done.
Here is my question: If my vision doesn't stabilize before summer FT, can I get it done after that date? What time would be best?
Thank you in advance for any responses.

-Tuckthemuck

P.S. Is there a post on the 2016 pilot slot statistics? It seems there were a lot less slots this year, as only two people got pilot slots this year in my detachment out of the 6 that applied. Our detachment found out last week.
 
Hey bud, for rated boards this year, check out this thread.
http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/afrotc-rated-boards-2016.45325/

As for surgery, I had LASIK performed this past December, and I will be going up for PSP this year. It really sucks that you are stuck with PRK, there is amazing stuff going on with LASIK tech that makes it a completely painless process (besides on the wallet). So the winter before SFT is best, leave at least 6 months before SFT to allow for proper healing. The biggest piece of advice though is to finish your DoDMERB first to make sure there are no other health issues in your way, and to make sure your cadre knows what you are doing.
 
Noketchup,

Thanks for the response. Is there a time in which I could receive surgery after SFT?

-Tuckthemuck

Just make sure it is at least 180 days prior to going in for your FC1. You will be required to have your eye doctor fill out a form for several post op visits to ensure your visision is good post op. Your cadre should have this form and all the info your would need.

The final post op visit is at 6 months.
 
Just make sure it is at least 180 days prior to going in for your FC1. You will be required to have your eye doctor fill out a form for several post op visits to ensure your visision is good post op. Your cadre should have this form and all the info your would need.

The final post op visit is at 6 months.

Ok thanks man, I'll be in contact with my NCOs.
 
Your Cadet Timeline:
index.php

*Wright-Patterson has replaced Brooks

Express immediately to your APAS and Medical NCO that you wish to have surgery. Keep them in the loop throughout the process and they will help you.

I will add that for pilots, uncorrected vision minimums are 20/70 in each eye, waiverable to 20/200. Nav is 20/200 uncorrected. Vision in both eyes should be correctable to 20/20.

Also there are condition limits you must meet before surgery:

MYOPIA
≤ -8.00 Diopters

HYPEROPIA
≤ +0.50 Diopters

ASTIGMATISM
≤ 3.00 Diopters

ANISOMETROPIA
≤ 2.50 Diopters
 
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