My NROTC mid told time for vision correction surgery....

[alabamaspitfire]

Can someone help me with this, as my mid is in Jr year, NROTC .  He is two years from grad.   Scored well on pilot exam and is/has been pilot qualified since admission.   Now being told by NAVY advisor it is time for vision correction.  Nearsighted and passed all eye exams prior to college admission, etc with this and knew surgery for correction would be down the road.    Any guidance here is appreciated.  How does one find the best surgeon recognized by NAVY? Thanks in advance! 

[Craig]

You really need to read this before you do anything.  The P117 Navy NAVMED manual says it a disqualifier.  However the Aviation manual says it's waiverable.  

P-138 Medman:
See Chapter 15-85, Eyes, para 13
http://www.med.navy.mil/directives/Documents/NAVMED%20P-117%20(MANM...

Then read the Aeromedical Reference and Waiver Guide,  Ophthalmology, para 12-15
http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmotc/nami/arwg/Pages/AeromedicalRefe...

[J/J Mom]

Sorry, this will probably be long ...

I don't really understand what Craig is implying is a disqualifier, but many MIDN & active duty have corrective eye surgery, my son included.

1-1/2 years ago i spoke on the phone with the Officer in charge of the policies on this.  He & his ppl were doing research & setting things up to approve Lasik for pilots, up until then only PRK surgery had been approved.  He told me my MIDN should probably have PRK because it was approved for MIDN already & if my MIDN were to get Lasik it might delay things for him since it had not yet been "officially" approved for MIDN, only active duty.

Our son had PRK surgery last Dec 27th.  He had his 1 year check up yesterday.  His vision in each eye is 20-15.  Pretty dang good.  All that was required for him to get Navy approval was for his Unit's CO to put it in his record that he approved.  (His CO was really pushing him to be a helo pilot.)

A word of warning, though.  Even though your son "passed all eye exams prior to college admission"  please have him check current regulations as to how bad his vision can be BEFORE the surgery.  Someone from his Unit should be able to direct him to current regs.  One MIDN friend had the surgery cuz she had also passed eye screenings before & was told she needed surgery to be a pilot.  After the surgery was over, someone else in Navy informed her that her vision was too bad prior to correction & she couldn't be a pilot.  Regs, apparently, had changed.

Another thing, it's always good for MIDN never to get their hearts set on any one job.  Our son, even though being pushed toward helo pilot & spending summer cruises with pilots has officially been assigned nuclear power school.  No pilot's license for him  :(   

He feels bad he had the surgery -- on our dime -- but we just assure him he'll never be sad he doesn't have to deal with contacts on a submarine.

I guess i didn't answer your question, haha.  Our son's Unit was ok with him having surgery at the location of his/our choice.  We did our own research & picked out a Dr/place we liked & knew was excellent.  They had done many military corrective eye surgeries there, too.  We just got copies of ALL of his records from our family eye doctor & copies of everything from the Eye Surgery place too to have the Unity put in his military med records.

[Craig]

Jn - What I'm saying is read the rule book. This lady's sailor isn't active duty yet.  Photo-refractive Keratectomy (PRK) is still disqualifier, but like everything else in the Navy, it must/can be waived.  Just like your son, he had to get the CO to put it in his record that he was approved, which means he was waived.  Here is the most resent copy for MEDMAN for eyes.  It's dated April 2007, here is what the rule says:

http://www.med.navy.mil/directives/Documents/NAVMED%20P-117%20%28MA...

(again, see chapter 15-85, Eyes, para 13)

(13) Eye surgery or any manipulation to
correct poor vision such as radial keratotomy, photo-
refractive keratectomy (note:  PRK), LASIK, intracorneal ring
implants, orthokeratology (Ortho-K), or eye rubbing
to reshape the cornea. Due to the Navy's progress
with corneal refractive surgery, see theAeromedica1
Reference and Waiver Guide for specific standards and waiver applicability.

------------------------------------------------

As you said, many active duty sailor have it, but that's because it was either performed by the military, or, was approved by the military.  Being active duty gives them a lot of slack.  For those newbies, they must get a waiver.  The Navy waives about everything.  

Bottomline is Alabanaspitfire needs to tell her future sailor to be very careful with this.  Just because MEPS says it's ok, doesn't mean it's ok.  MEPS is run by the Army.  I seen countless times where sailors are approved by MEPS, only to get to Navy training and being DQ'd for various things.  The Navy has a tighter set rules. He must get permission from the Navy, or, as a civilian he needs to understand the consequence if he doesn't get the Navy involved.  

[J/J Mom]

Craig -- i get it now, the disqualifier/waiver thing you were trying to get across.  I know nothing about MEPS, i don't even know what it stands for haha, interesting that it's Army run, but giving Navy kids advise.  There is much for them to be careful about & to consider -- like our friend who had the surgery but still didn't qualify for pilot due to vision & our son who had it & then didn't get pilot.  So much is about needs of the Navy when these NROTC MIDN are seniors, not what they've been training for on cruises, which makes sense.

Thanks for the lessons!  You are always so good & thorough.  I so appreciate all i have learned from you on this site, and all the time you put in to help all of us. 

[aggiemom]

The op's son might want to go over airwarriors.com and ask there. 

[alabamaspitfire]

Thanks and I will do that too.  Mid is being directed by his unit, etc. too.  

[alabamaspitfire]

Thanks and we are getting the correct information now.  Another mid in his group just completed their vision correction surgery, and did well, is still aviation qualified.  If the pilot role does not work out, my mid would be fine on a sub too!  Just loves the NAVY and wants to serve. 

FYI Virginia Tech's NROTC has a good information handout about this, and it can be found online.  Thanks!

[alabamaspitfire]

WIth the NROTC after  eye surgery they require the midn apply for a waiver.  Currently mid is researching docs, etc. Thanks for your help!