Possibilities of Branching Aviation with Crap Eyesight

[cbasalt1]

I have always wanted to branch aviation. Don't get me wrong however, while it is my preference, I could be just fine in many other branches.

I do, however, not have the best vision. During a rushed and half-a** free school physical, I was recently put down as having correctable to 20/20 vision with glasses. I do know that this is a requirement. In reality, my vision is probably not that good even with glasses.

I typically wear contact's which really don't correct well at all, probably due to the fact that I have an Astigmatism and need Toric lenses, which I need to get. My current contact prescription is -1.25, but the glasses work better and could be higher. I will make sure to have the most up-to-date eyewear before I do any DodMerb exams, but even then, I am afraid it won't be perfect.

I would be fine with doing the eyesight surgery. I think this would be your junior year at a SA? Is this after or before you would pick your branch?

This being said my main question is:

Would the eyesight surgery offered at the academys guarantee you aviation-worthy vision?

If anyone has experience with this surgery please let me know!

Also another question. Does anyone wear contacts at USNA or do you have to wear the BC Glasses? Maybe glasses would be a better choice for some reason? This question could also apply to if I can get into Summer Seminar. Which ones I should bring?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Hockey10]

Way too little information and unreliable "facts" to give a useful answer. Give Mr. Mullen some real info and he may be able to guide you.

 

[cbasalt1]

Way too little information and unreliable "facts" to give a useful answer. Give Mr. Mullen some real info and he may be able to guide you.

I figured anything more info wouldn't be helpful to anyone unless they were an eye doctor. I would be happy to provide my full prescription if anyone deems it helpful.

Is Mr. Mullen the DODMERB Specialist?

Thanks

 

[kinnem]

I figured anything more info wouldn't be helpful to anyone unless they were an eye doctor. I would be happy to provide my full prescription if anyone deems it helpful.

Is Mr. Mullen the DODMERB Specialist?

Thanks

Yes he is.

 

[Capt MJ]

While you are exploring answers to your central question, tuck into your military culture usage manual Navy folks typically don’t use “branch” as a the customary verb to indicate warfare community. With more and more joint service interaction and exposure, usage, jargon and slang do migrate, though. “What warfare community (or community) were you in/are you in/do you want?” “What is your designator?” (warfare communities have 4 digit codes, with various numbers meaning different things)

 

[Usnavy2019]

Hey man! I had PRK done at the Academy and I went Navy Pilot. Here are the answers to your question:

1. Laser eye surgery will happen your 2/C (junior year) at USNA. You get scheduled for it after undergoing pre-commissioning physicals (more on this at the bottom). It is an elective surgery technically so you can turn it down and wear glasses/contacts, but you won't be pilot qualified.

2. See the bottom.

3. You are not guaranteed, but I have never really heard of anyone not having it after recovery. I had an astigmatism as well and it was fixed by PRK. I can't shoot lasers out of my eyes or see into the future as promised. Take that for what it's worth. On a serious note, the ophthalmologists and their equipment are top-notch. At Walter Reed.

4. People wear both contacts and glasses. BCGs are better than what they used to be. BCGs are only worn during Plebe Summer. You can wear your own or get the gold rims from Academy optometry during the Ac Year. I personally wore glasses before I got lasered. It made it easy to take them off before anything that could possibly damage them. You'll get muddy, dirty, sweaty, etc. as a MIDN. Contacts can get damaged, lost, etc. Glasses were a lot lower maintenance for me.

More on Pre-commissioning physicals (called pre-comms). Pretty much an all day affair during October during your Junior Year. This is to determine which communities you are qualified/DQed for before service assignment happens (November of your Senior Year). You'll do it in two parts (three if you want to count your annual dental exam): optometry and pretty much everything else. Optometry is actually pretty involved and the docs will test depth perception, distant/near vision, color recognition, and also they'll take images of your eye structure.

Next is everything else. You'll do anthros (all types of weird measurements to determine if you can fit in various cockpits), lab workups, a physical, and a meeting with a pre-commissioning doc. The meeting is for you to discuss with the doc your results, what you are DQed for (if anything) and any concerns or questions for service assignment.

 

[TXSUB]

While you are exploring answers to your central question, tuck into your military culture usage manual Navy folks typically don’t use “branch” as a the customary verb to indicate warfare community. With more and more joint service interaction and exposure, usage, jargon and slang do migrate, though. “What warfare community (or community) were you in/are you in/do you want?” “What is your designator?” (warfare communities have 4 digit codes, with various numbers meaning different things)

I was just about to comment on the word “branching”. You beat me to it! We always used “what community did you service select?”

 

[Kierkegaard]

If you want to branch something, go join the army. If you want to earn assignment to the naval aviation warfare community, you can look up the medical requirements online if you search “naval aerospace medicine institute”.

PRK is very common at the Academy. No, nothing is ever guaranteed. But I’ve never heard of anyone getting poor results from PRK here. As mentioned above, many components go into first med clearing you for aviation and then getting assigned it. Unlike the OCS route, if you attend an academy you really have to enter with the understanding that you may not get the job you want/expect going in. You have a very good chance of getting what you want if you put in the work and are fortunate enough to be medically eligible. But nothing is ever guaranteed. Hell, those of us who have been assigned aviation could have something happen that precludes aviation. Unlikely but happens to at least someone every year.

 

[Capt MJ]

With so much at stake, it is very important to rely on official sources. Mr. Mullen, the Deputy Director, DoDMERB, who stands overwatch on the DoDMERB thread as @MullenLE , can discuss specifics with you and give you the benefit of his insights on related issues. He usually offers to communicate offline.

It is helpful to have others’ anecdotal experience, but that may or may not apply to you. Over the years we have sponsored midshipmen at USNA, several have not met the criteria to be good candidates for PRK. The eye docs at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center put your eye health first. They have thresholds, standards and policies consistent with best practices and military medicine guidelines. If you are not a good candidate, you will not be approved to get the surgery.

It is good that you are open to other warfare communities. That gives you flexibility.

The foundational element here is to get an accurate eye exam and appropriate eyewear.

No contacts during Plebe Summer.

Fall of 1/c (senior) year is when decisions are made about warfare community selection and assignment.

 

[Dr. Strange Love]

.
“ … My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near … “

Dreams of doing things are what Life is all about …. But, always know that you can’t stop too long dreaming about doing one thing — pondering what-if — because your life is a long journey and you will have a lot of important and exciting things that you will have done before your work and commitments are complete and your life’s journey has stopped.

— ROBERT FROST — “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
.

 

[cbasalt1]

.
“ … My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near … “

Dreams of doing things are what Life is all about …. But, always know that you can’t stop too long dreaming about doing one thing — pondering what-if — because your life is a long journey and you will have a lot of important and exciting things that you will have done before your work and commitments are complete and your life’s journey has stopped.

— ROBERT FROST — “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
.

Nice poem and also profile pic Robert Johnson!! The original Blues Man

 

[cbasalt1]

Hey man! I had PRK done at the Academy and I went Navy Pilot. Here are the answers to your question:

1. Laser eye surgery will happen your 2/C (junior year) at USNA. You get scheduled for it after undergoing pre-commissioning physicals (more on this at the bottom). It is an elective surgery technically so you can turn it down and wear glasses/contacts, but you won't be pilot qualified.

2. See the bottom.

3. You are not guaranteed, but I have never really heard of anyone not having it after recovery. I had an astigmatism as well and it was fixed by PRK. I can't shoot lasers out of my eyes or see into the future as promised. Take that for what it's worth. On a serious note, the ophthalmologists and their equipment are top-notch. At Walter Reed.

4. People wear both contacts and glasses. BCGs are better than what they used to be. BCGs are only worn during Plebe Summer. You can wear your own or get the gold rims from Academy optometry during the Ac Year. I personally wore glasses before I got lasered. It made it easy to take them off before anything that could possibly damage them. You'll get muddy, dirty, sweaty, etc. as a MIDN. Contacts can get damaged, lost, etc. Glasses were a lot lower maintenance for me.

More on Pre-commissioning physicals (called pre-comms). Pretty much an all day affair during October during your Junior Year. This is to determine which communities you are qualified/DQed for before service assignment happens (November of your Senior Year). You'll do it in two parts (three if you want to count your annual dental exam): optometry and pretty much everything else. Optometry is actually pretty involved and the docs will test depth perception, distant/near vision, color recognition, and also they'll take images of your eye structure.

Next is everything else. You'll do anthros (all types of weird measurements to determine if you can fit in various cockpits), lab workups, a physical, and a meeting with a pre-commissioning doc. The meeting is for you to discuss with the doc your results, what you are DQed for (if anything) and any concerns or questions for service assignment.

Very Helpful advice! Thanks a bunch

 

[cbasalt1]

While you are exploring answers to your central question, tuck into your military culture usage manual Navy folks typically don’t use “branch” as a the customary verb to indicate warfare community. With more and more joint service interaction and exposure, usage, jargon and slang do migrate, though. “What warfare community (or community) were you in/are you in/do you want?” “What is your designator?” (warfare communities have 4 digit codes, with various numbers meaning different things)

If you want to branch something, go join the army. If you want to earn assignment to the naval aviation warfare community, you can look up the medical requirements online if you search “naval aerospace medicine institute”.

PRK is very common at the Academy. No, nothing is ever guaranteed. But I’ve never heard of anyone getting poor results from PRK here. As mentioned above, many components go into first med clearing you for aviation and then getting assigned it. Unlike the OCS route, if you attend an academy you really have to enter with the understanding that you may not get the job you want/expect going in. You have a very good chance of getting what you want if you put in the work and are fortunate enough to be medically eligible. But nothing is ever guaranteed. Hell, those of us who have been assigned aviation could have something happen that precludes aviation. Unlikely but happens to at least someone every year.

Bad Rep from my initial interest in WP (They have "Branch Night").

Its always great to know the correct terms as to not sound uninformed. Thanks for the correction and advice!

 

[Capt MJ]

Bad Rep from my initial interest in WP (They have "Branch Night").

Its always great to know the correct terms as to not sound uninformed. Thanks for the correction and advice!

In a very general way, everyone gets it if someone asks you “what branch of the service were you in?”

When referring to the pre-comm process of choosing and being selected for the officer specialties, the terminology differs by service.

And for your advanced learning module:
1390 is the designator for Student Naval Aviators right after commissioning. Student Naval Flight Officers are 1370.
When qualified at a specific point, the pilot designator becomes 1310.
Posted for advance studies when you’re procrastinating on a task, and for general awareness for parents, applicants, etc. when they hear “designator” bandied about:

https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Reference/NOOCS/Vol1/Manual_I_75_PTA_DESIG_Apr21.pdf?ver=6TxLSoMRnp2Kww5PqtWoUQ%3D%3D

 

[Dr. Strange Love]

Nice poem and also profile pic Robert Johnson!! The original Blues Man

.
Yes … blues man Robert Johnson

… and as far as Frost’s poem, you are on the right path in life, but don’t get too far ahead of yourself in trying to figure it all out before you get to those “Waypoints” that you find interesting and exciting.

 

[cbasalt1]

.
Yes … blues man Robert Johnson

… and as far as Frost’s poem, you are on the right path in life, but don’t get too far ahead of yourself in trying to figure it all out before you get to those “Waypoints” that you find interesting and exciting.

Great advice, thanks