Possible DQ For Eyesight?

E

emperormco

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Jan 28, 2024
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Hello! Curretnly left eye is at 20/20 uncorrected Right eye is 20/200 uncorrected, 20/25 corrected . I was wondering if anyone had experience with this type of situation and a waiver. No problems with eye except this. Thank you so much!
 
I surely I am not an eye doctor and not sure if this apply to you, but here is what happened to my DD:
'DD just got waiver granted for being born with high astigmatism for USMA - just wanted to send some good vibes to all with this condition.
She had a correctable vision to 20/20 on one eye and 20/25 on the other, with glasses/contacts'
 
Biscotte said:
I surely I am not an eye doctor and not sure if this apply to you, but here is what happened to my DD:
'DD just got waiver granted for being born with high astigmatism for USMA - just wanted to send some good vibes to all with this condition.
She had a correctable vision to 20/20 on one eye and 20/25 on the other, with glasses/contacts'
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I took my eye exam a few days ago and am concerned about my astigmatism. My eyes are 20/20 with correction, but I did very poorly in one part which the doctor said was due to my astigmatism, and he even mentioned it was pretty bad. How did you get the waiver granted?
 
WatzitToYuh said:
I took my eye exam a few days ago and am concerned about my astigmatism. My eyes are 20/20 with correction, but I did very poorly in one part which the doctor said was due to my astigmatism, and he even mentioned it was pretty bad. How did you get the waiver granted?
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DoDMERB reviews the exams and medical history and determines if you meet/don’t meet standards (Q/DQ), per the military medical accession standard below. That eventually shows up in your portal.

The commissioning source manages the waiver process per the waiver policy they have, so since you are in the USMA forum, USMA would have to decide to initiate the waiver review process for you. Go to the DoDMERB home page and review the left-side menu items to read about the process.


 
DS has amblyopia. I don't know what his uncorrected vision is but he is corrected to 20/30 in the left and 20/20 in the right. That was his only vision DQ and a waiver was granted by USCGA and USNA
 
Unfortunately, no one except the Admissions groups at each SA can provide the definitive results for you. I tell my students to prepare for the process by anticipating the details that will help DoDMERB and each waiver authority determine if you qualify for the waiver. Your doctor (ophthalmologist) should be able to provide this insight and documentation. Also, you will want to have 'back-up' plans in case your waiver is not granted or you do not receive an appointment/ROTC scholarship after it is granted. Best of luck!
 
emperormco said:
Hello! Curretnly left eye is at 20/20 uncorrected Right eye is 20/200 uncorrected, 20/25 corrected . I was wondering if anyone had experience with this type of situation and a waiver. No problems with eye except this. Thank you so much!
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So whether or not you are DQ depends on the service to which you are applying.

You provided only your visual acuity, which i am assuming is your distant visual acuity.

Based on your corrected distant visual acuity of 20/20 in one eye and 20/25 in the other, you would meet the standards for the Army and Air Force. No waiver required because you are not DQ.

For any service that has to deal with the water :) you do not meet the standards. You need to be correctable to 20/20 in each eye for the USN, USCG, etc...

The other thing you need to know about this the refraction standard, that is, what is lens power needed to correct you to 20/20 and 20/25? There is a separate standard for that and it's the same for all the services. If you provide your eye glasses prescription, then I can tell you if you meet the refraction standards.

Finally, the services will want to know why you cannot be corrected to 20/20. Could be from strabismus or other things from your childhood. A reason not being able to be corrected to 20/20 and very low chance of being waived is cataracts.
 
So my son....really late in taking the eye exam is 20/30 corrected in left eye and 20/20 corrected in right eye....20/20 with both eyes together....lots of info here but do I need to worry about getting a waiver?? ARMY ROTC at Virginia Tech, Corp of Cadets...Also color blind but passed the falant test I believe....thank you...
 
GoCubbies said:
So whether or not you are DQ depends on the service to which you are applying.

You provided only your visual acuity, which i am assuming is your distant visual acuity.

Based on your corrected distant visual acuity of 20/20 in one eye and 20/25 in the other, you would meet the standards for the Army and Air Force. No waiver required because you are not DQ.

For any service that has to deal with the water :) you do not meet the standards. You need to be correctable to 20/20 in each eye for the USN, USCG, etc...

The other thing you need to know about this the refraction standard, that is, what is lens power needed to correct you to 20/20 and 20/25? There is a separate standard for that and it's the same for all the services. If you provide your eye glasses prescription, then I can tell you if you meet the refraction standards.

Finally, the services will want to know why you cannot be corrected to 20/20. Could be from strabismus or other things from your childhood. A reason not being able to be corrected to 20/20 and very low chance of being waived is cataracts.
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AND GO CUBS GO HAWKS....BORN AND RAISED CHICAGO GUY HERE
 
I’m assuming you’re giving me the corrected distant visual acuity. He passes the standard for the Army. No waiver required.

What is the corrected near visual acuity?

What is his refraction?
 
elliotb said:
So my son....really late in taking the eye exam is 20/30 corrected in left eye and 20/20 corrected in right eye....20/20 with both eyes together....lots of info here but do I need to worry about getting a waiver?? ARMY ROTC at Virginia Tech, Corp of Cadets...Also color blind but passed the falant test I believe....thank you...
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SO IT TURNS OUT he did fail the Ishihara color test...
 
elliotb said:
So my son....really late in taking the eye exam is 20/30 corrected in left eye and 20/20 corrected in right eye....20/20 with both eyes together....lots of info here but do I need to worry about getting a waiver?? ARMY ROTC at Virginia Tech, Corp of Cadets...Also color blind but passed the falant test I believe....thank you...
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For color vision screening, the services use the pseudoisochromatic plates (PIP).

If you want to go into the Army and fail the PIP, then the eye doctor will test to see if you can distinguish vivid red/vivid green. If you pass that test, then you qualify. Waiver not needed.

The FALANT is no longer used.
 
elliotb said:
So my son....really late in taking the eye exam is 20/30 corrected in left eye and 20/20 corrected in right eye....20/20 with both eyes together....lots of info here but do I need to worry about getting a waiver?? ARMY ROTC at Virginia Tech, Corp of Cadets...Also color blind but passed the falant test I believe....thank
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elliotb said:
SO IT TURNS OUT he did fail the Ishihara color test...
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So the next test should have been an assessment to distinguish vivid red/vivid green.
 
Ept1983 said:
DS has amblyopia. I don't know what his uncorrected vision is but he is corrected to 20/30 in the left and 20/20 in the right. That was his only vision DQ and a waiver was granted by USCGA and USNA
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Makes sense. The standard for the USCGA, USNA, and USMMA is you have to be correctable to 20/20 in each eye. Otherwise, a waiver will be needed.
 
WatzitToYuh said:
I took my eye exam a few days ago and am concerned about my astigmatism. My eyes are 20/20 with correction, but I did very poorly in one part which the doctor said was due to my astigmatism, and he even mentioned it was pretty bad. How did you get the waiver granted?
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How bad was your astigmatism?

If your astigmatism is worse than 3 diopters, then you will be DQ’ed.

If your astigmatism is between 3-5 diopters then generally a waiver can be considered. However, you will need to undergo a test called corneal topography to ensure nothing bad is going on with your cornea like keratoconus.
 
elliotb said:
Thank you GoCubbies!! We need to push this fast as New Cadet orientation is 8.16
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That test should have been done in the eye doctor’s office after he failed the PIP.

Can you get a copy of the exam from the eye doctor? Sign a release and say it’s for your personal records (one of the legit reasons they will give copy to the patient or parent).
 
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GoCubbies said:
How bad was your astigmatism?

If your astigmatism is worse than 3 diopters, then you will be DQ’ed.

If your astigmatism is between 3-5 diopters then generally a waiver can be considered. However, you will need to undergo a test called corneal topography to ensure nothing bad is going on with your cornea like keratoconus.
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Hi, thanks for your response.

I actually received my results about two weeks after posting my original question. As It turns out I was overly pessimistic and was completely fine with my eyes. I was required to send AMI's back for other reasons so that is what I'm currently waiting on now.

I understand it's a case-by-case scenario but would you have any idea how long it takes for AMIs to be reviewed on average?
 
WatzitToYuh said:
Hi, thanks for your response.

I actually received my results about two weeks after posting my original question. As It turns out I was overly pessimistic and was completely fine with my eyes. I was required to send AMI's back for other reasons so that is what I'm currently waiting on now.

I understand it's a case-by-case scenario but would you have any idea how long it takes for AMIs to be reviewed on average?
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There’s a lot of leeway with astigmatism. As mentioned before, you can have some degree of astigmastism (not worse than 3 diopters) and still qualify outright.

If DoDMERB is requested the AMIs (and not the waiver authority), then it should be reviewed within 72 hours. An overwhelming majority are reviewed within 24-48 hours by the DoDMERB staff.
 
Go Cubbies if you fail the vivid red/green test can you still get a waiver?? Son is beginning ArmyRotc at VT in two weeks. 4 year scholarship
 
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