Contact Lens

C

CA_USNA_Dad

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Dec 29, 2016
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My DD is getting ready to head to Annapolis and we had a question about contact lens. We know that she has to go with glasses for the plebe summer. But how about the academic year? Can she purchase them through her insurance? If so how is that done?
 
She can use contacts during the academic year. A lot of Plebes will put them in at Parents weekend also. Have Mom and Dad bring them then. Not sure on current rules for contacts on Tri Care. They used to not be covered. A current Mid can speak if that rule has changed.
 
Our DD is still ordering her contacts through our insurance plan. I am pretty confident TriCare still does not provide for contact lenses. We brought her contacts to her on PPW (Just a reminder PS is not over PPW, so technically they have to sign back in with the issue glasses vs the contacts - though I suspect no Detailer would notice or care)
 
Some plebes have parents send lenses in the mail so that they can switch from glasses to contacts when the detailers switch.
 
Cerberi said:
Our DD is still ordering her contacts through our insurance plan. I am pretty confident TriCare still does not provide for contact lenses. We brought her contacts to her on PPW (Just a reminder PS is not over PPW, so technically they have to sign back in with the issue glasses vs the contacts - though I suspect no Detailer would notice or care)
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My question was from Tricare (insurance) perspective and not from the permission perspective since DD will use contacts even during part of PS when she is doing sports. Do you have your DD still covered under your family plan? If we take DD off of family plan and Tricare does not provide contacts, then is it just an out of pocket expense?
 
Yes. They would be an out of pocket expense. If your daughter is going to be playing a D1 sport at USNA have her talk to the trainer. I believe some of the contacts were covered as a need for sports, but have her double check.
 
NavyHoops said:
Yes. They would be an out of pocket expense. If your daughter is going to be playing a D1 sport at USNA have her talk to the trainer. I believe some of the contacts were covered as a need for sports, but have her double check.
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Thanks. That sounds like a plan. I'll have her talk to the trainers once the practices begin in earnest.
 
I have no clue regarding sports provisions at USNA, but for those wondering the fleet Navy does not provide contact lenses for active duty folks with two exceptions: 1)Aircrew are able to get them when funds are available and 2)if you need them for a medical condition such as kerataconus or other condition where the only way to get your best corrected vision is with the use of a contact lens (these are usually special order type lenses).

Many eye care providers in the military will also balk at writing a prescription for contact lenses (myself included) because we don't have fitting sets or routinely prescribe them. Sometimes you'll get a doc who will, but that is a favor and not required. In that case you have to go out and get the prescription on your own cost as well. (I had to do this exact routine many times prior to having PRK)
 
No. An honor offense would be lying if asked if they had them in. Most plebes put them in Parents Weekend. Heck I encouraged my Plebes to do it. The week after Parents Weekend is much calmer and most wore them daily then. I had no issue with it then.
 
Parents weekend is fine to wear them, but to start wearing them surreptitiously just as the second set of plebe summer detailers take over, as
the poster implied, seems wrong and could get the plebe in trouble. Not a good way to start your NA career. Besides, I think there is some overlap
between the 2 sets of detailers so you probably wouldn't get away with it anyway.
 
MichaelW22 said:
Some plebes have parents send lenses in the mail so that they can switch from glasses to contacts when the detailers switch.
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They don't know who's watching ;)

Also, there's certain things about how turnover is conducted that would make this fairly difficult to accomplish.
 
MichaelW22 said:
Some plebes have parents send lenses in the mail so that they can switch from glasses to contacts when the detailers switch.
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??? Not sure where this poster go the information, looks like he is a 2022 candidate... I'm sure its been done before, but pretty ratey ; I doubt there are many Plebes at that point in plebe summer that would have the cajones to try. Further, the consequence of getting caught would be severe. Another time for the admonition, be careful about what you read on these Forums !


BDHuff09 said:
They don't know who's watching ;)
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> Doesn't matter who it is.....someone is always watching !

To the Plebes -- you will see classmates and (during Ac year, upperclassmen) trying to game the system or stretch the regs a bit. That's part of the experience and not necessarily a bad thing. However, when tempted...keep in mind the concept of risk and reward. Old saying of " if you do the crime..be prepared to do the time.." applies at USNA. Only you can decide whether the risk of doing something is worth it --- at Reunion 30 years later, it will be either a great Sea Story or just another tale of time spent with the EMBC (early morning breakfast club, or restriction squad).
 
Got my info from a current mid who just finished plebe year. I hope everyone does what they think is right. I don't see how it'd be an honor offense unless glasses are in the uniform regs, I'm not sure. Anyways, good luck to the class of 2021!
 
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