Glasses During Plebe Summer

[bluejayburrito]

I’m excited to join the class of 2025, and I’ve been reading lots of information about plebe summer on the forums, and through mids both in and out of the academy. However, the mids I know all never had to wear glasses, so I have a big question: how is it wearing the issued glasses during plebe summer? Are you able to keep them clean? I know they’re going to get dirty and wet, and that’s fine. But will you have time and a clean way to wipe them? Smeared glasses are almost as good as no glasses, and I want to be able to see clearly to not be a burden on my fellow company mates while doing PT or other activities. I know too that I can wear my normal glasses after Plebe Summer, and will surely do that. Thanks in advance to anyone able to offer some insight!

 

[MidCakePa]

DD, who normally wore contacts back then, donned the infamous BCDs during plebe summer. They’re not pretty, but they’re effective. Don’t worry. You'll have many fellow spectacle-wearers, and no one wants plebes walking around in a fogged-up or lens-smeared state. And depending on your vision, you can do what DD did: She always had them on her, but she often kept them tucked away and only pulled them out when absolutely necessary. You’ll be fine.

 

[bluejayburrito]

DD, who normally wore contacts back then, donned the infamous BCDs during plebe summer. They’re not pretty, but they’re effective. Don’t worry. You'll have many fellow spectacle-wearers, and no one wants plebes walking around in a fogged-up or lens-smeared state. And depending on your vision, you can do what DD did: She always had them on her, but she often kept them tucked away and only pulled them out when absolutely necessary. You’ll be fine.

I wish I could do the same but they’re a need unless sleeping. And yes, fog is yet another issue with masks, and if they’re already smeared and smudged it’s even worse. Thanks for the input!

 

[helmsdown]

I wish I could do the same but they’re a need unless sleeping. And yes, fog is yet another issue with masks, and if they’re already smeared and smudged it’s even worse. Thanks for the input!

DD was in the same boat. She only took out her contacts or her glasses off to sleep. Putting glasses on was the first thing she did in the morning. She was able to get through plebe summer and never mentioned an issue with dirty glasses but she didn't have to wear a mask her plebe year. They do sell anti-fog products for glasses. Perhaps the detailers will allow those early on.

 

[service_academy2025]

we can wear contacts though after plebe summer right or is there a choice between wearing glasses or contacts during the academic year? Also is it sophomore or junior year we are able to get lasik or prk?

 

[MidCakePa]

Contacts are prohibited only during plebe summer. After that, do as you please. Mids are eligible for vision correction procedures after they’ve signed 2-for-7, i.e. during junior year. There may be other requirements too.

 

[georgiemason]

Mine had glasses and a mask last summer...they were always dirty and his only option was wiping them off on an even dirtier and sweatier shirt!! He didn't have an issue and said he just got used to the blur....and still was able to get sharpshooter!! LOL.

 

[Temple17]

I recall practically being blind on I-Day as I was adjusting to be new prescription. Occasionally, plebes will be allowed to wear contacts during plebe summer during sports period if they are participating in a sport like boxing.

Prescription Googles: I bought a pair of $20 prescription googles on Amazon before I-Day for swim glass. I recommend this if your eyes are really bad so you can see the instructors.

LASIK/PRK: After you sign your commitment at the beginning of 2/C year you can received refractive eye surgery. Definitely the best benefit of my naval service so far. Its so nice to be able to wake up and actually see your room.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

Simple answer... Plebe summer sucks; it sucks a little more with glasses.
Don't worry about it, you will have hundreds of Classmates with the same issues.
As they say in the 'Corps... embrace the suck.

Seriously, I've worn glasses since High School; can't do Lasik or any of the other miracle cures. I've had to deal with the issue in all sorts of conditions (including about 70 miles of a 100 mile bike ride in the rain, and the only thing I could see was my friends blinking light 6 feet ahead of me). All you can do is make do with what you have, you get used to it. The good news is they will issue some really cool looking glasses--they are virtually indestructible, you don't have to worry about scratching them (if something happens to them, they will give you another pair !), and (how do I say this in modern day PC terms) you are guaranteed to be popular with the opposite sex when you hit the town wearing them !

 

[helmsdown]

The only issue DD mentioned was the platform jump into the pool. It really was a leap of faith since she couldn't wear her glasses for the jump and couldn't see the water below. She said she slowly shuffled to find the edge.

On a much brighter note, she had the corrective surgery last winter and now has at date for flight school with her 20/20 vision.

 

[ThereseInDenver]

Are you able to keep them clean? I know they’re going to get dirty and wet, and that’s fine. But will you have time and a clean way to wipe them?

We packed a handful of individually wrapped lens wipes for Plebe Summer in my son's walk-in string bag last year and included a few more in each care package. My son said he mostly just wiped glasses on blue rim cotton t-shirt and tucked it back in, but the lens wipes come in handy as screen cleaners. Your Mom will soon be on FB boards where she'll get tips on what to put in care packages.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned...you will be amazed at how many people are wearing the BCD's because all of the people who normally wear contact lenses are wearing them, too! You can get an idea by looking at Plebe Summer photos (this is one of the photographers sells photos to parents) https://www.plebesummer.com/

 

[ThereseInDenver]

LASIK/PRK: After you sign your commitment at the beginning of 2/C year you can received refractive eye surgery. Definitely the best benefit of my naval service so far. Its so nice to be able to wake up and actually see your room.

And you get to wear sunglasses outside while your eyes are healing! My DS's CVW was right in the window when a huge number of 2/cs were sporting some very sharp sunglasses and everybody gladly explained!

 

[kyboymom]

My son wore the BCD's last summer with a mask and said fog wasn't an issue but they did get dirty. He also just wiped them on his shirt and tucked it back in. We ordered the prescription googles which he said he didn't need (before I-day) and was VERY glad to have once he arrived. He also took his regular glasses and contacts in with him on I-day because we had friends whose initial BCD prescription was off and they needed their own glasses for a few days until it was corrected. The added bonus was that he was able to put his contacts in the night plebe summer ended.

 

[DKTKT]

Simple answer... Plebe summer sucks; it sucks a little more with glasses.
Don't worry about it, you will have hundreds of Classmates with the same issues.
As they say in the 'Corps... embrace the suck.

Seriously, I've worn glasses since High School; can't do Lasik or any of the other miracle cures. I've had to deal with the issue in all sorts of conditions (including about 70 miles of a 100 mile bike ride in the rain, and the only thing I could see was my friends blinking light 6 feet ahead of me). All you can do is make do with what you have, you get used to it. The good news is they will issue some really cool looking glasses--they are virtually indestructible, you don't have to worry about scratching them (if something happens to them, they will give you another pair !), and (how do I say this in modern day PC terms) you are guaranteed to be popular with the opposite sex when you hit the town wearing them !

Okay, you kind of asked for it with "how do I say this in modern PC terms" 😆😉 so here goes... I don't think projecting a sexual orientation (as in "opposite sex") is really a Thing in modern PC term. Perhaps "hotties of interest" would be better? 🤔 (TBH, I am probably same era as you, and would never have noticed the hetero-normativity except you called yourself out as trying. Sorry! LOL)