Vision Waiver Chances

[throwaway24821]

Hello, I am currently a junior in high school. Overall, I consider myself to be a very competitive applicant (high GPA, test scores, leadership, athletics) to The Coast Guard and Naval Academies. However, due to my genetic eye condition, amblyopia, my right eye is only correctable to 20/25. My left eye is fully correctable to 20/20. In addition to this, both eyes fall within the requirements for uncorrected vision. I am wondering if I have any shot whatsoever at receiving a vision waiver to either USCGA or USNA. If any of you all know anything about this, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You,
**REMOVED**

 

[Freda'sMom]

If you meet the standard for uncorrected vision, no one will care about you corrected vision. Why would they?

However, the underlying genetic condition that caused it may be the medical waiver that's needed, not a vision waiver.

 

[5Day]

Vision uncorrectable to 20/20 in both eyes is disqualifying for Coast Guard, USNA and I believe NROTC uses the same standard. https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/_files/documents/MedicalAppendix1.pdf
However the DoDMERB standard for corrected vision is
a. Current distant visual acuity of any degree that does not correct with spectacle lenses to at least one of the following (367):
(1) 20/40 in one eye and 20/70 in the other eye (369.75).
(2) 20/30 in one eye and 20/100 in the other eye (369.75).
(3) 20/20 in one eye and 20/400 in the other eye (369.73).
Having gone through the standards DoDMERB used for medical standards, these vision standards seem so lax compared to what is used for everything else. But, it is the stanard. So your vision would not be DQ for some military branches. Probably Army, less likely Air Force, but I am sure you can google it to find out.

As for Amblyopia, I cannot find it as a disqualifying condition. Again hard to believe. Here is the eye section on
g. Ocular Mobility and Motility
(1) Current or recurrent diplopia (368.2).
(2) Current nystagmus (379.5x) other than physiologic “end-point nystagmus.”
(3) Esotropia (378.0x), exotropia (378.1x), and hypertropia (378.31): For entrance into Service academies and officer programs, the individual Military Services may set additional requirements. The Military Services shall determine special administrative criteria for assignment to certain specialties.

It may be that last catch all in the last line item (3) ... may set additional requirements. That is the catch all for the DQ. Here is the medical standard http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/613003p.pdf

Bottom line, all I can do is show you the DoDMERB standards, and based on that you are qualified. (again I am very skeptical). It is not a non-waiverable condition. And I do not know what the Coast Guard's position is on granting waivers. But, like the other services, if they want you bad enough, your chances of a waiver go up.