Strabismus Surgery?

36falcon36

5-Year Member
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Sep 17, 2017
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I have a very random question that I know most people won’t have a prefect answer to. But, I figured that maybe SOMEONE out there might have some knowledge to offer.
I am a prospective 2023 SA and ROTC applicant, and overall I am a pretty healthy person. I can’t think of anything that would disqualify me medically, except for one thing. When I was a child (3 or 4 years), I had strabismus surgery to correct my crossed eyes. Now, my eyes are mostly fine, except for some very minor nearsightedness, which is correctable to 20/20. Will this be an issue, even though I was 3 or 4 at the time of surgery?

Also, one more question... if I want to become a pilot, will my history of eye surgery disqualify me from that?

Again I know this is a very specific question, but any advice is helpful. I know I am early in the process, but I’m just trying to get some more info if anyone has gone through this before.
 
I can offer some guidance. DD NROTC mid had the exact situation. She had a complete eye exam from Dr who performed the Esotropia surgery 15 years earlier to document it was successful.

Checked the Eye trouble and past surgery/hospital stay blocks on paperwork. Both Dodmerb physicians noted on paperwork that things looked good and she was qualified without remedial.

She wants SWO/Sub so flight may be different story. There should be guidelines someplace in Navy Bumed or NAMI parameters. My guess having gone through NAMI myself is JET carrier aviator = non qual and everything else NFO and helo/patrol will be a Qual.....

We never needed it but having the paperwork from the recent eye exam and post operative findings is good to have in case of remedial.

Good luck.. Fly Navy !!
 
I have a very random question that I know most people won’t have a prefect answer to. But, I figured that maybe SOMEONE out there might have some knowledge to offer.
I am a prospective 2023 SA and ROTC applicant, and overall I am a pretty healthy person. I can’t think of anything that would disqualify me medically, except for one thing. When I was a child (3 or 4 years), I had strabismus surgery to correct my crossed eyes. Now, my eyes are mostly fine, except for some very minor nearsightedness, which is correctable to 20/20. Will this be an issue, even though I was 3 or 4 at the time of surgery?

Also, one more question... if I want to become a pilot, will my history of eye surgery disqualify me from that?

Again I know this is a very specific question, but any advice is helpful. I know I am early in the process, but I’m just trying to get some more info if anyone has gone through this before.
i don't know anything about the strabismus, but i also have some nearsightedness which is correctable to 20/20. I don't really need glasses, but have them in case i need to read something small from far away. The optometrist who gave me the exam for DODMERB told me i am good, but i can't never be a pilot. so not sure if that surgery will disqualify you from being a pilot, but your minor nearsightedness might.
 
It seems like you should be medically qualified. The current esotropia, depending on severity, is disqualifying. The standard does not say history of. However: there is a catch all in the standard "Current or history of any abnormality of the eye (360) or adnexa (376, 379.9), not specified in subparagraphs 4.h.(1)-(9) of this enclosure, which threatens vision or visual function" But I do not think this will apply.

No good news for pilot however. This is from the Navy Aeromedical Standards, other services may have different standards for aviators.
http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmotc/nami/arwg/Pages/AeromedicalReferenceandWaiverGuide.aspx
SNA are Student Naval Aviators
12.5 HISTORY OF STRABISMUS SURGERY
WAIVER: History of strabismus surgery is considered disqualifying for all aviation duty. A waiver typically will not be considered for an SNA applicant, due to the risk of progressive degradation to alignment even decades later. A waiver for aviation duty other than an SNA applicant may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Waiver consideration is no sooner than six months after a successful and stable strabismus surgery if post-operatively, the member otherwise meets the visual standards appropriate for his or her duty.
 
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