Vision Medical Waiver (Hard to get?)

baes

baes

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Jul 23, 2020
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Hey everyone, prospective candidate of USNA class of 2028 and just wanted to know,
How hard is it to get a vision waiver? I’ve been looking on this forum and other forums just like this and found mixed results on getting a vision waiver. Some say its near impossible, some say they give them out like candy.

For context, the disqualifying vision for the Naval Academy is, “Refractive error exceeding + or – 8.00 diopters and astigmatism exceeding 3.00 diopters is disqualifying.” (Appendix A: Medical Considerations for Admission)
My eyes are basically -9.00 in both and astigmatism exceeding 3 in one eye, safe to say I have pretty bad eyes.

Is this the end of the line for me, or is there still hope?
 
brobaes said:
Hey everyone, prospective candidate of USNA class of 2028 and just wanted to know,
How hard is it to get a vision waiver? I’ve been looking on this forum and other forums just like this and found mixed results on getting a vision waiver. Some say its near impossible, some say they give them out like candy.

For context, the disqualifying vision for the Naval Academy is, “Refractive error exceeding + or – 8.00 diopters and astigmatism exceeding 3.00 diopters is disqualifying.” (Appendix A: Medical Considerations for Admission)
My eyes are basically -9.00 in both and astigmatism exceeding 3 in one eye, safe to say I have pretty bad eyes.

Is this the end of the line for me, or is there still hope?
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Without any other context, I had similar numbers (-8.25/-8.5, 3.25/3.5) and an additional optical issue that were all waived. I was physically qualified for URL (just not Aviation/Special Warfare) at commissioning.

If you're asking this because you don't know if it's worth the time to finish out the application, it is, and you should do it.
 
nuensis said:
Without any other context, I had similar numbers (-8.25/-8.5, 3.25/3.5) and an additional optical issue that were all waived. I was physically qualified for URL (just not Aviation/Special Warfare) at commissioning.

If you're asking this because you don't know if it's worth the time to finish out the application, it is, and you should do it.
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Thank you so much. I really needed that, I thought I was finished in terms of getting into USNA. Hopefully I’ll get my waiver.
 
As Larry Mullen always says . . . every medical situation is different. The fact that someone else who appears to have a similar condition did or did not get a waiver has no bearing on what will happen with you. You are in the hunt unless or until you are turned down. The only way you will be 100% sure not to get a waiver for a SA is not to apply for a SA.
 
nuensis said:
Without any other context, I had similar numbers (-8.25/-8.5, 3.25/3.5) and an additional optical issue that were all waived. I was physically qualified for URL (just not Aviation/Special Warfare) at commissioning.

If you're asking this because you don't know if it's worth the time to finish out the application, it is, and you should do it.
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Had you researched surgery if you didn't get the waiver? I am worried about my DS's options if he is denied a waiver. His eyes aren't stellar.
 
JohnMcLane said:
Had you researched surgery if you didn't get the waiver? I am worried about my DS's options if he is denied a waiver. His eyes aren't stellar.
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See link below. Getting vision correction surgery before entering the military/attending an SA can be a DQ. I am not sure what happens at USCGA.

For those who get into DoD SAs, corrective vision surgery is often performed after the commitment papers are signed, for viable candidates.

 
JohnMcLane said:
Had you researched surgery if you didn't get the waiver? I am worried about my DS's options if he is denied a waiver. His eyes aren't stellar.
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From my knowledge having laser eye surgery is disqualifying indefinitely. It is from my understanding they give no waivers to applicants who received laser eye surgery BEFORE applying to USNA. They will give you laser eye surgery at the academy once you turn 21, I think. I asked many people around the academy and they said not to worry too much about the vision waiver, since many people get vision waivers. If any of the information I stated is incorrect, someone please correct me. But getting a waiver for laser eye surgery is definitely harder than getting a waiver for bad eyes.
 
JohnMcLane said:
Had you researched surgery if you didn't get the waiver? I am worried about my DS's options if he is denied a waiver. His eyes aren't stellar.
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No. I don't have knowledge of the above posts, but they seem correct, and I would not recommend it.

As a data point, I was still able to get PRK as a MIDN.

Again, all of these medical-related posts here and anywhere else are anecdotal evidence, worth as much as the nonexistent paper they are printed on. They all lack much deeper context that will not be shared on a public forum like this.

I dropped by to encourage all to finish the application and not worry about waivers. The waiver decisions are largely outside the control of any candidate (and DoDMERB itself).
 
This diatribe is to demonstrate why specific medical questions should NOT be asked on this forum. First, is the astigmatism written in plus or minus cylinder. -9.00+3.00@90 is a spherical equivalent of -7.50 while -9.00-3.00@90 is a spherical equivalent of -10.50. Then, how thick are the corneas? What is the axis of the astigmatism? Could this be an early keratoconus? What do the retinal peripheries look like? Also, pre-SA age refractive surgeries have a significant chance to develop corneal ectasia (look it up.) I assure you the military nor the patient want to deal with this. I could go on but I hope I made my point. By the way, I had an USAFA applicant years ago with a similar refraction. He got his waver and is now an O-6. He eventually had LASEK. Not a pilot.
 
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