<p>I was wondering if there is some cut off point for refractive with nearsightedness (mine is -3.25 and -4.50)? Do they stop giving waivers at a point, or is it somewhat of a gray area?</p>
<p>Cut off for being pilot/navigator qualified or cut off for getting PRK surgery while a cadet?</p>
<p>There's a minimum cutoff for getting PRK surgery that is about -1.00, but I don't know if there's a maximum allowable refractive error. Can't be any greater than 8.00 cause that's the cutoff for commissioning. Not quite sure on these facts though. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Thanks for the info, usafa21astr. I suppose now would be a good time to look up my prescription for my glasses/contacts to see if there's any chance in heck I would be PRK qualified.</p>
<p>The range for PRK is -3.25 to -8 from the appointee booklet. As long as you're correctable to 20/20, there shouldn't be too much trouble. Hope this helps :)</p>
<p>Yeah, that's what it is. I couldn't quite remember, and I couldn't find anything on the internet when I was searching around last night. Sorry for the bad info. Luckily I make those cutoffs cause I'm -4.00 in each eye.</p>
<p>so if your refractive error is between 0 and -3.25, you're DQ'd from PRK?</p>
<p>If it is, you'd better start staring at the computer screen and hope they get worse! </p>
<p>Just kidding</p>
<p>Yeah, come'on all you have to do is just play BF2 all day like I will be this summer. :D</p>
<p>haha.. lets hope mine is bad enough then.</p>
<p>wow never thuoght i'd say that. lol</p>
<p>Well keep in mind too, if you're correctable to 20/20 with glasses or somethin you can still fly...if thats what you're lookin to do. My dad flew for over 20 years with glasses. They will probably keep the PRK for people who REALLY need it and have the desire to go to UPT. To even get PRK is another process in itself...somewhere else in the thread or a past one I think...</p>
<p>Really? Shows how much I know. I always thought that you had to have perfect vision (or above 20/50 or whatever) to fly. I suppose I should probably look into this a but, huh? Thanks for the info Z-Man.</p>
<p>Alright, I've been doing some research, and here's what I've come up with thus far. Some of it might be a rehash of what others have said, but I've included everything for everyone's convenience.</p>
<p>"During your Four-Degree (freshman) year, you will receive a preliminary eye examination. This will let you know whether or not you are potentially pilot qualified (PPQ) in an area where most people fail their flight physicals. If you are selected, you may be chosen to receive PRK surgery for your eyes, which will occur through the USAF during your Three-Degree (sophomore) year...During your Two-Degree (junior) year, you will receive your official graduation flight physical. This physical will determine whether or not you will be eligible for a pilot slot. If you fail your flight physical, there are two basic options: 1) You can have additional tests done and file for a waiver, or 2) You can apply to cross-commission into the Navy or Marine Corps...Usually, most USAFA cadets who are medically qualified and want to go to UPT get a pilot slot. Classes are usually approximately 950 Cadets, and there are usually approximately 530 pilot slots for each class (537 for the class of 2005)."</p>
<p>The following contradicts what Z-Man 07 says, which could mean that the info is old or incorrect, but I included it anyway because it's from an AFROTC website.</p>
<p>"Interested in flying? Below are some general qualifications...</p>
<p>Pilot
* Vision
o Normal color vision
o Distant vision - pilots, uncorrected to 20/70
o Near vision - pilots, uncorrected to 20/20
o Meet refraction, accommodation and astigmatism requirements
o Corrective eye surgery could be a disqualifier"</p>
<p><a href="http://www.csus.edu/afrotc/pilot.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.csus.edu/afrotc/pilot.html</a></p>
<p>Those were the best I could find. I tried AcademyAdmissions.com, but info in this area is incredibly sparse. I'm more concerned with getting a commission than with going to UFT right now, but can anyone else confirm Z-Man's statement about flying with glasses/contacts? I cannot find a definite answer.</p>
<p>Thanks for that wantscheck.com site, I was looking for it last night but I couldn't remember the name. Good job on the info though. As for what Z-man said, I definitely know that you can't fly with contacts or glasses on, so you either have to be within the 20/70 limits or else have PRK. Although I have heard of older pilots that don't meet these limits and are still flying.</p>
<p>Seeing as that is an ROTC unit, it may be a little different. What I said is right from the 2006-2007 USAFA Catalog. </p>
<p>Concerning visual acuity, "Qualification for potential flying duties requires uncorrected distant visual acuity no worse than 20/50 (Pilot) and 20/200 (navigator), correctable to 20/20 in each eye. Uncorrected near visual acuity worse than 20/20 (pilot) and 20/40 (navigator) must be correctable to 20/20 in each eye." </p>
<p>Another section talks about the astigmatism and refractive error info as well, in which refractive error is +2/-1 and .75 astigmatism for pilots, and +3/-2.25 and a 2.0 astigmatism for navigators. </p>
<p>The corrective surgeries can be disqualifying as you said; however LASIK is usually permanently disqualifying (all this was covered at orientation). </p>
<p>As for glasses and contacts, my dad wore glasses for 20+ years in the F-16, and my brother is also now a viper driver and knows guys he flies with that fly with contacts.</p>
<p>Hmmm. I guess since you, Z-Man 07, know people that fly with corrective lenses then they don't always follow what the regs say; I never knew that you could fly with glasses before. :confused: Although if you were going strictly on what the regs. say you wouldn't be able to wear corrective lenses while flying.</p>
<p>Ohhh... hmm. I've definitely heard folks that wear em... things may have changed and now you can't or something... but that's my latest info... Sorry for any confusion :-/ are you, usafa21astr, at the academy now?</p>
<p>Nope, I'm a year behind you Z-Man, hopefully next year though. You learn something new every day. :) Btw, my info is only off of the regs.</p>
<p>Good deal, well good luck with all that!! Just get it done early is my advice lol. Where did you find these regs? I'm scared that I won't be able to wear glasses now...</p>
<p>Actually I was just looking and it seems that you can wear glasses if you are within the 20/70 limits. It was all somewhat confusing. lol I find it quite funny how we're pretty much in a chat room right now considering our post times. :D</p>
<p>See what you can make of it:
<a href="http://www.forum.militaryltd.com/fighters-bombers-flying/m925-flying-glasses.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.forum.militaryltd.com/fighters-bombers-flying/m925-flying-glasses.htm</a>
<a href="http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/archive/index.php?t-2941.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/archive/index.php?t-2941.html</a></p>