OK, we've had a thread moved to the correct forum, and merged with another as I can answer both of these with one post and save my fingers and the keyboard some un-needed exercise!!
Both applicants do not correct to 20/20, first thing would be to go see your family optometrist and find out if they have ever been able to correct to 20/20 (HerMom2 has already done this). Next, get copies of at least the last 3 years eye exams. Thats the easy step.
Debbie - the disqualifications will carry over to NROTC as the vision standards are the same (unless it is a nursing scholarship. If it is let me know). The anisometropia will be difficult to obtain a waiver for, but not impossible, and that is one possible reason for the not correcting to 20/20.
HerMom2 - astigmatism is also difficult to get waivers for, but again, not impossible.
For both - the following is your choice, you do not have to do it, and if you do it will be at your expense, but you can go to your family optometrist. Get a copy of the eye examination form off the DoDMERB web site, and along with the disqualification letter go get a new manifest refraction. Again, this would be your choice, the disqualifications will be reviewed by the waiver authorities regardless of what you decide to do.
If you decide to do the manifest refraction, do it as soon as possible. It may be possible for DoDMERB to remove one or both the disqualifications depending on the outcome of the examination. There is a possibility a new disqualification could be added as well though.
All the following information is if you decide to go through with the new manifest refraction. Make sure that if the applicant wears contact lenses that they have been out of them for 3 days for soft lenses, 21 days for hard lenses. Even if they do not wear contacts, have the applicant write at the bottom of the eye examination form either they do not wear contacts, or they have been removed for ___ days. HAVE THE APPLICANT SIGN THE STATEMENT!!!!
Get an early morning appointment. As early as you can. The night before the appointment restrict the amount of studying, book reading, computer use, TV watching. Make it a family game night (a terrible punishment to the kids I know
) and play cards or a board game, something that will let the eyes rest and won't require intense focus on one plane. Make the applicant go to bed early and get a good nights rest. The eyes have a bunch of muscles and you want them well rested.
When you go to the optometrist tell him/her that the applicant needs to be corrected to 20/20. That means no errors on the 20/20 line.
Emphasize the no errors!!!! Tell them not to over correct. You want 20/20 and no better. We are not trying to get glasses to use for the next 2 years, we want them to see 20/20 right here and right now with the absolute best refractive error we can get. Have the optometrist fill out blocks #17, 18 and 19. Make sure the optometrist signs and puts their stamp on the form. Also ask them to staple one of their office cards to the form in case the DoDMERB optometrist has any questions. Feel free to print this out and take it with you as well.
Once that is done, send the copies of the past 3 years eye exams and the new manifest refraction to DoDMERB. You want the last 3 years exams in case DoDMERB is unable to remove the disqualification to show how the eyes are progressing. If the refraction has stayed relatively stable over the past 3 years, the better the chance for a waiver.
Again, the manifest refraction is your choice!!
If there are any questions please feel free to let me know!
