OP, you are right to ask for more information from the PNS and staff. The reason the Navy is careful about PRK, Lasek, Lasik and whatever other method is available is because of the G forces an aviator can encounter in fast planes. The Navy wants its surgeons performing the procedure according to their specs, to avoid an unknown spec surgery eyeball bursting open in a 9G maneuver.
PRK surgery before joining?
- Thread starter wonderwoman27
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usna1985
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I can't speak for NROTC but can speak for USNA. There could be different standards but . . .
USNA does NOT want you to have any type of vision correction surgery before coming to USNA. If you do, you get "punished" from a medical standpoint. First, they take your pre-corrected vision (what it was before the surgery) as the vision they consider for admissions purposes. Thus, you get zero benefit for having had the surgery.
AND, they view vision correction surgery prior to attending USNA very unfavorably. The reason is that the Navy believes that eyes continue to grow/change during one's early college years. Thus, in their view, there is a likelihood that the person's vision will change and/or the surgery will have to be repeated (if it can be . . . I'm not an MD). Finally, as noted above, LASIK may not be acceptable for being a pilot. All of those are considered issues.
If you need better vision to be a pilot or SEAL or, quite honestly, just want the surgery -- and you meet the medical requirements to have the surgery -- you can have it during (I believe) your junior year. I would assume (but do not know) that a similar program exists for ROTC.
In any event, if you are thinking about vision correction surgery, PLEASE ensure you speak to the right people in the services before going forward. You could ruin your chances for certain programs by having surgery precipitously.
USNA does NOT want you to have any type of vision correction surgery before coming to USNA. If you do, you get "punished" from a medical standpoint. First, they take your pre-corrected vision (what it was before the surgery) as the vision they consider for admissions purposes. Thus, you get zero benefit for having had the surgery.
AND, they view vision correction surgery prior to attending USNA very unfavorably. The reason is that the Navy believes that eyes continue to grow/change during one's early college years. Thus, in their view, there is a likelihood that the person's vision will change and/or the surgery will have to be repeated (if it can be . . . I'm not an MD). Finally, as noted above, LASIK may not be acceptable for being a pilot. All of those are considered issues.
If you need better vision to be a pilot or SEAL or, quite honestly, just want the surgery -- and you meet the medical requirements to have the surgery -- you can have it during (I believe) your junior year. I would assume (but do not know) that a similar program exists for ROTC.
In any event, if you are thinking about vision correction surgery, PLEASE ensure you speak to the right people in the services before going forward. You could ruin your chances for certain programs by having surgery precipitously.
Not to beat a dead horse - but my son is CURRENTly a 4 yr NROTC scholarship cadet at VMI. The unit had to grant permission and they told him from the beginning that it would be summer before 2C (junior yr) - surgery shouldnt not be done before 21 yrs -still growing.
There is a difference between whats acceptable AF-A- and NAVY - so you should wait until you are in the Navy program and then see.
My son was told all along, having even the PRK BEFORE entering would be a disqualifier. He was border 20/30 - NAVY is/was 20/40 uncorrected, corrected to 20/20.
by his 2C summer, eyes were about the same, little worse, depending on guy who adminsters eye exam - but at prep op he was 20/35 and 20/40 so his thinking was he had gotten alittle worse as he aged, or the intensity of exam so exact that he finally had an accurate record of sight. My son reported all steps as he went thru them to unit at VMI. My son had the surgery at John Hopkins during summer -return to school for junior yr -and is currently a senior expecting to commission in May 2013.
Good luck - be honest whatever you decide to do. larrys mom
ps - we were told for last decade or more and as far as I know now, NAVY ONLY does (for USNA midn) or will allow (FOR NROTC MIDN - paid for my MIDN) - PRK - NOTHING ELSE
There is a difference between whats acceptable AF-A- and NAVY - so you should wait until you are in the Navy program and then see.
My son was told all along, having even the PRK BEFORE entering would be a disqualifier. He was border 20/30 - NAVY is/was 20/40 uncorrected, corrected to 20/20.
by his 2C summer, eyes were about the same, little worse, depending on guy who adminsters eye exam - but at prep op he was 20/35 and 20/40 so his thinking was he had gotten alittle worse as he aged, or the intensity of exam so exact that he finally had an accurate record of sight. My son reported all steps as he went thru them to unit at VMI. My son had the surgery at John Hopkins during summer -return to school for junior yr -and is currently a senior expecting to commission in May 2013.
Good luck - be honest whatever you decide to do. larrys mom
ps - we were told for last decade or more and as far as I know now, NAVY ONLY does (for USNA midn) or will allow (FOR NROTC MIDN - paid for my MIDN) - PRK - NOTHING ELSE
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