So basically I'm just writing this to give anyone else with a similar medical situation a heads up, and even if you're in the same boat as me, don't give up. Your situation could be different, I'm just giving you a little insight behind my specific case.
Anyways earlier today my admissions officer called me and told me even though I had a "stellar" application (I'm not bragging or anything, I'm just giving you an idea, but I'm going to Stanford on a full academic ride and I absolutely murdered my CFA) the surgeon was denying my waiver request. I was initially disqualified for a D155.70 which is myopia greater than -8.00. My right eye is -8.00 diopters and my left eye is -8.25 diopters.
My admissions officer told me that the surgeons were pretty lenient about eyesight up to about -5.00 diopters. However, the surgeon's are very strict about keeping the -8.00 mark. He said that the reason for the surgeon denying my waiver was threefold.
1. My vision will deteriorate and being in a combat situation as well as being responsible for the lives of other men, having my eyesight past a certain point is dangerous. Especially if I should lose my glasses.
2. My vision could cause me to fail to graduate as a commissioned officer. So basically I would be a wasted investment. (I'm giving you the short of it, he didn't say wasted investment, he was a lot nicer about it)
3. PRK is not a suitable treatment for my situation as it is unable to correct myopia of my caliber.
Unfortunately for me, this was absolute crushing news. However, he did tell me that ROTC is much more lenient. He said that you can usually push their limit to around -10.00 diopters so ROTC is definitely something I'm looking into.
Basically good luck to all of you candidates for 2015, I wish I could say see you in June but unfortunately West Point is not for me. It sucks but it's all good. Hopefully 4 years from now, we'll all graduate together with our shiny gold bars. Anyways good luck!
P.S. I bet I'm the only who'll ever say this, but I'm pissed I don't get to go to plebe summer.
Anyways earlier today my admissions officer called me and told me even though I had a "stellar" application (I'm not bragging or anything, I'm just giving you an idea, but I'm going to Stanford on a full academic ride and I absolutely murdered my CFA) the surgeon was denying my waiver request. I was initially disqualified for a D155.70 which is myopia greater than -8.00. My right eye is -8.00 diopters and my left eye is -8.25 diopters.
My admissions officer told me that the surgeons were pretty lenient about eyesight up to about -5.00 diopters. However, the surgeon's are very strict about keeping the -8.00 mark. He said that the reason for the surgeon denying my waiver was threefold.
1. My vision will deteriorate and being in a combat situation as well as being responsible for the lives of other men, having my eyesight past a certain point is dangerous. Especially if I should lose my glasses.
2. My vision could cause me to fail to graduate as a commissioned officer. So basically I would be a wasted investment. (I'm giving you the short of it, he didn't say wasted investment, he was a lot nicer about it)
3. PRK is not a suitable treatment for my situation as it is unable to correct myopia of my caliber.
Unfortunately for me, this was absolute crushing news. However, he did tell me that ROTC is much more lenient. He said that you can usually push their limit to around -10.00 diopters so ROTC is definitely something I'm looking into.
Basically good luck to all of you candidates for 2015, I wish I could say see you in June but unfortunately West Point is not for me. It sucks but it's all good. Hopefully 4 years from now, we'll all graduate together with our shiny gold bars. Anyways good luck!
P.S. I bet I'm the only who'll ever say this, but I'm pissed I don't get to go to plebe summer.