Vision for SNA

AustinPowers

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Feb 17, 2016
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Hi guys I don't know where else to post this but

my right eye has a sphere of +1.50 and a Cylinder of -3.00

My left eye has a 0.00 sphere and a -1.00 Cylinder

Am I done for pilot or can I get a waiver?

Thank you
 
AP -- I am NOT a doctor.

DoDMERB will use DoDI 6130.03 to determine if you are medically qualified of if you are "DQ": https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/613003p.pdf?ver=2018-04-09-114201-123

Section 5.4 of DoDI 6130.3 says . . .

"5.4. VISION.
a. Current distant visual acuity of any degree that does not correct with spectacle lenses to at least 20/40 in each eye. DoDI 6130.03, March 30, 2018 SECTION 5: DISQUALIFYING CONDITIONS 14
b. For entrance into Service academies and officer programs, the individual DoD Components may set additional requirements. The DoD Components will determine special administrative criteria for assignment to certain specialties.
c. Current near visual acuity of any degree that does not correct to 20/40 in the better eye.
d. Current refractive error (hyperopia, myopia, astigmatism) in excess of -8.00 or +8.00 diopters spherical equivalent or astigmatism in excess of 3.00 diopters.
e. Any condition that specifically requires contact lenses for adequate correction of vision, such as corneal scars and opacities and irregular astigmatism.
f. Color vision requirements will be set by the individual DoD Components
."

As I understand it, your "3.oo Cylinder" means "amount of lens power for astigmatism." From the info supplied it appears DoDMERB would most likely rate you as "qualified" for military service as long as your Cylinder value doesn't exceed 3.00. (Keep in mind qualified for military service does not automatically equate to being "pilot qualified.") DoDMERB will send you to see their eye doctor to verify your vision. If you are "over" a limit then you would need then a medical waiver from the SA or ROTC to which you are applying.

Best wishes to you and thank you for being willing to serve.
 
AP -- just re-read your post . . . within what service do you want to serve as a pilot? Each service has similar pilot qual medical regs, but there are differences (like for color vision as mentioned in "item f"of the DoDI 6130.03) and different service flight surgeons can have different interpretations. The AF seems to be the most strict, with the Army more reasonable,with the Navy and Marine Corps somewhere in between . . .
 
AP -- just re-read your post . . . within what service do you want to serve as a pilot? Each service has similar pilot qual medical regs, but there are differences (like for color vision as mentioned in "item f"of the DoDI 6130.03) and different service flight surgeons can have different interpretations. The AF seems to be the most strict, with the Army more reasonable,with the Navy and Marine Corps somewhere in between . . .

Either Navy or Air Force honestly

But Air Force is more tempting because of their A/C mission
 
Hi guys I don't know where else to post this but

my right eye has a sphere of +1.50 and a Cylinder of -3.00

My left eye has a 0.00 sphere and a -1.00 Cylinder

Am I done for pilot or can I get a waiver?

Thank you

For SNA, your sphere must be between -1.50 and +3.00. Your cylinder must be no worse than -1.00.

Unfortunately, you don’t meet the standard for cylinder. You have too much astigmatism in your right eye. I don’t think the USN will give a waiver for cylinder being -3.00.

However, the standard for cylinder to be an SNFO is no worse than -3.00. You barely meet that standard.

If the SNA thing doesn’t work out, then consider applying to be a SNFO.
 
Hi guys I don't know where else to post this but

my right eye has a sphere of +1.50 and a Cylinder of -3.00

My left eye has a 0.00 sphere and a -1.00 Cylinder

Am I done for pilot or can I get a waiver?

Thank you

For SNA, your sphere must be between -1.50 and +3.00. Your cylinder must be no worse than -1.00.

Unfortunately, you don’t meet the standard for cylinder. You have too much astigmatism in your right eye. I don’t think the USN will give a waiver for cylinder being -3.00.

However, the standard for cylinder to be an SNFO is no worse than -3.00. You barely meet that standard.

If the SNA thing doesn’t work out, then consider applying to be a SNFO.

This is discouraging...I don't know what to do, I really like to be the PIC and I would've liked to fly Seahawks
 
Hi guys I don't know where else to post this but

my right eye has a sphere of +1.50 and a Cylinder of -3.00

My left eye has a 0.00 sphere and a -1.00 Cylinder

Am I done for pilot or can I get a waiver?

Thank you

For SNA, your sphere must be between -1.50 and +3.00. Your cylinder must be no worse than -1.00.

Unfortunately, you don’t meet the standard for cylinder. You have too much astigmatism in your right eye. I don’t think the USN will give a waiver for cylinder being -3.00.

However, the standard for cylinder to be an SNFO is no worse than -3.00. You barely meet that standard.

If the SNA thing doesn’t work out, then consider applying to be a SNFO.

This is discouraging...I don't know what to do, I really like to be the PIC and I would've liked to fly Seahawks


When you looked through the phoropter (that's the think you looked through, read the letters on a screen/wall, and eye doctor changed the lenses), the eye doctor probably dialed you in to a -3.00 for cylinder to get your best visual acuity. If you go back to the eye doctor, have him check to see what your visual acuity would be if he/she puts your cylinder at -1.00 in the right eye. If you can get to 20/20 with -1.00 cylinder in that right eye, then you meet the standards.

I think the USAF will waive up to -3.00 cylinder.

A few things to note though:
1) what is your uncorrected visual acuity?
2) if you're at -3.00 cylinder now in the right eye, it's possible you may worse to -3.25 or higher by the time you ask for a waiver which would put you out of waiver standards
3) your cylinders are very different from the left and right eyes which may cause you to fail the depth perception testing
 
When you looked through the phoropter (that's the think you looked through, read the letters on a screen/wall, and eye doctor changed the lenses), the eye doctor probably dialed you in to a -3.00 for cylinder to get your best visual acuity. If you go back to the eye doctor, have him check to see what your visual acuity would be if he/she puts your cylinder at -1.00 in the right eye. If you can get to 20/20 with -1.00 cylinder in that right eye, then you meet the standards.


I think the USAF will waive up to -3.00 cylinder.

A few things to note though:
1) what is your uncorrected visual acuity?
2) if you're at -3.00 cylinder now in the right eye, it's possible you may worse to -3.25 or higher by the time you ask for a waiver which would put you out of waiver standards
3) your cylinders are very different from the left and right eyes which may cause you to fail the depth perception testing[/QUOTE]

I will ask my eye doctor about that.
20/25 on my left eye and 20/60 on right

for the second and third thing, what should I do? I am nervous now :(
 
20/25 on my left eye and 20/60 on right

for the second and third thing, what should I do? I am nervous now :(


I'm assuming the visual acuities you provided are uncorrected and your corrected VA is 20/20 for both right eye and left eye. That's good.

Your original question was about "SNA." That tells me Student Naval Aviator. That's what you want to be, correct?

While your cylinder (astigmatism) of 3.00 diopters is DQ for SNA qualifications, you are at the limit of qualification (for cylinder/astigmatism) for the USNA like @Falcon A mentioned. If you stay at 3.00 diopters, you'll be fine to get into the USNA. If you worsen and get, for example, 3.25 diopters, then you're within waiverable range for USNA. If you get into the USNA (and ultimately attend), you can get corneal refractive surgery during your 2nd class year to get you within SNA standards for cylinder/astigmatism. You've still got a chance to be the PIC of the SH-60 Seahawk.

If you want to fly for the USAF, then they will consider waiver for up to 3.00 diopters of cylinder/astigmatism assuming the rest of your eye exam is normal.

There's nothing you can do if you don't meet depth perception standards because one eye has low moderate astigmatism and the other has severe astigmatism other than get corneal refractive surgery to fix the astigmatism.
 
Cannot go into the Academy...jr college student and I will find a way to achieve my dream of this.

Thank you for the advice.
 
BTW If I can, I would LOVE to fly for the Air Force, but I sent an email to my nearest detachment and they have not replied yet.
 
BTW If I can, I would LOVE to fly for the Air Force
BTW have you considered the U.S Army WOFT program? There is demand for warrant officer rotary pilots in the Army no college degree required! (high school to flight school).
They fly much more often than commissioned officers too.

Perhaps @GoCubbies could clarify if your vision issues might have a better chance to pass WOFT medical requirements?

https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-.../warrant-officer/flight-warrant-officers.html
 
BTW If I can, I would LOVE to fly for the Air Force
BTW have you considered the U.S Army WOFT program? There is demand for warrant officer rotary pilots in the Army no college degree required! (high school to flight school).
They fly much more often than commissioned officers too.

Perhaps @GoCubbies could clarify if your vision issues might have a better chance to pass WOFT medical requirements?

https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-.../warrant-officer/flight-warrant-officers.html


I have...and I am not really interested in Army Aviation, the idea of flying heavies grabs me a lot, Army is completely if not nearly rotary. I also love the Navy helo mission too.
 
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