BUD/S vision questions re:revised standards..

[Camwyn]

Gentlemen,
got a question for the insiders and BTDT's (Frog, Trident, etc). On the -Official- Navy SEAL recruiting site, it stated the vision standards 20/70 and 20/40, correctable to 20/20. No Waiver. It then states that these standards are under review. Any news on a revised standard?
Also, how long is Torpedoman's Mate "A" school? Thanks fir any help. I'm a long time lurker, and finally found a valid question.

Camwyn

[trident86]

Torpedoman's Mate is about to go away as a rating in the Navy, and we are converting all of our TM's to Gunner's Mates or Aviation Ordnancemen. You will not be able to sign up as a TM.

Also, BUMED (Bureau of Medicine) will waiver your vision to 20/70 in one eye and 20/100 in the other, as long as everything else is good to go. We at BUPERS (Bureau of Personnel) are waiting for approval in writing, so they will no longer have to grant eyesight waivers.

[Camwyn]

No waiver's needed, hopefully? does that mean
20/100 in each eye would be ok, if BUMED gets its way?


Camwyn

[trident86]

No, 20/70 in one, and 20/100 in the other. If you want to get it corrected, PRK is the ONLY acceptable method (for now), but you have to wait 12 months after the surgery before you can go to BUD/S.

[Camwyn]

Anyone know if PRK is covered by most insurance plans? BTW, is BUMED looking to roll back to the standard to 20/100 each eye? The SEAL challenfge website stated that the standard itself (I think) was under review...


Camwyn

[Cerberus]

Originally posted by Camwyn:
Anyone know if PRK is covered by most insurance plans? BTW, is BUMED looking to roll back to the standard to 20/100 each eye? The SEAL challenfge website stated that the standard itself (I think) was under review...


Camwyn


I dont think most insurance companies will cover PRK surgery because it is considered a cosmetic surgery.

Cerberus

[Camwyn]

Doh! 2k an eyeball......ouch....


Camwyn

[sax]

I just finished up with prk this monday

i can answer most questions about it concerning new accesions and rotc students. I have been involved in this fight for vision acceptance for some time now.

Although an accurate fact 6 months ago...the 1 year waiting period is lifted...it is now 3 months. I know this because my dive physical is scheduled in 3 months and that is the wait according to the latest message traffic to my command.

sax

[WS-G]

Camwyn:

The uncorrected limit of 20/100 bilaterally that you're thinking of applies to the Air Force's Pararescue and Combat Control career fields. Qualification as a combat swimmer is one of the first things you'll do in either of those communities.

Also, the Army's limit for prospective combat divers is 20/200 in the poorer eye and 20/70 in the better eye. Waivers are possible as long as your refractive error (spectacle prescription) doesn't fall outside a limit of ±8.00 dioptres and your distant visual acuity in each eye in correctable with glasses to 20/20 or better. A small caution about the Army side of the fence: you'll have to prove yourself as an operator first before you'll even be considered for this school. Don't sweat the waiver too hard here — those with prescriptions as strong as the allowed limit tend to have uncorrected DVA's worse than 20/400!

[trident86]

You need to wait ONE year after PRK if you are a civilian, and SIX months after PRK if you are active duty. Apparently your eyes change when you take the oath.

[Camwyn]

Is LASIK a process that falls under PRK? Most Opthamologists offer LASIK. How's the screening process work re:PRK/LASIK? Do they just say, "oh, you had PRK done 12 Months ago? Hop into the chair and we'll check it out?", and if your ok, pass you?

Camwyn

BTW: I'm on Week 4 of Phase I of the Warning Order. -Excellent- program. I'm already seeing improvement in all aspects of my physical capabilities. Swimming is my worst skill, not having been a regular swimmer. Have to -seriously- improve my sidestroke...



[This message has been edited by Camwyn (edited 08-25-2000).]

[trident86]

LASIK involves actually cutting of the cornea, which has not been fully evaluated by BUMED (Bureau of Medicine) for effects under water or air pressure (for instance, while freefalling, or diving at depth). LASIK is currently disqualifying for SPECWAR, but we are trying to change that as soon as we see some hard data.

[abaustin]

So PRK surgery IS safe for HALO/deep diving? I would guess so, if it's allowed for the SEALs. I've been considering getting laser surgery for a while, but I didn't 'cuz I kept hearing rumors of your retina blowing off at altitude/depth.


[This message has been edited by abaustin (edited 08-26-2000).]

[SILENTOP]

Trident,
Would you say BUMED will make a ruling on LASIK within the next 12months?


SILENTOP

[LRSC Grunt]

I made the same comment a year ago about eye surgery, but some wanna-be(nissin?) attempted to flame me. I guess I was right all along http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/smile.gif

[sax]

did he ever get to buds? (nissan)