<p>I was wondering, because i am not pilot qualified because of my contacts, if with the base hospital shutting down they will still offer prk to cadets? also how common is prk and how does that affect summer assignments? thanks</p>
<p>From what I understand, they're only shutting down the emergency portion. It's going to be an out-patient facility only I think.</p>
<p>what are the requirements to receive the PRK surgery? I have heard that there is a special range for your diopters to be in, yet I have heard of people who are not within the range receiving the surgery. would someone with -2.75 be elgible to receive the the surgery?</p>
<p>I have the same issue as well. Don't quote me, but I believe the range is + or - 8 diopters for prk.</p>
<p>in the same boat as you duke.. im hopin for prk to help me get my pq :) from what i heard, just have decent grades when ya get there, and then almost everyone gets it. i'm sure there are certain requirements you have to meet though, but they cant be tooooo strict</p>
<p>So if almost everyone who needs PRK gets it, does that mean the academy does like 100+ eye surgery's a year just to PQ some people with bad vision?</p>
<p>dunno.. have to get a current cadet to answer. i'm sure they turn away people because of grades or they dont meet PRK's requirements or the air force doesnt need any more PQ people, but i really have no idea :)</p>
<p>They do a lot of PRK a year for people. Most with decent grades and in good standing that need it will get it (and want pilot). -2.75 MIGHT actually be waiverable to be a pilot. Not sure though.</p>
<p>Hey everyone I am in the same boat but am completely uninformed of the Academy's policy with PRK. Will the offer it to the class of 2012, when is the earliest opportunity to get it, and what qualifies you for it? Thanks a lot for entertaining the questions guys.
Nate aka Alcat</p>
<p>If you are going for pilot and you have decent grades, you qualify (plus the applicable vision requirements for PRK). You would get it your 2dig (re: junior) year.</p>
<p>The doc at the clinic said that -2.25 (IIRC) would probably be waiverable. I don't really know other than that.</p>
<p>Wikipedia says the standards are etween -1.50 to -7.00 diopters of myopia.. wouldnt -2.25 and -2.75 be right in that range? why would it have to be wavered? hmm</p>
<p>The waiver refers to people like me. I have -1 in one eye which is outside the pilot range. However, its close enough that I can easily get a waiver (as it is also the most common waiver).</p>
<p>Er...sorry, I was not specific. I meant a waiver for eyesight (so no surgery is necessary), not a waiver to get prk.</p>
<p>okay gotcha :) thanks guys</p>
<p>Just to clear up confusion:</p>
<p>I went to orientation and spoke with the PRK rep. He told me that if your eyes are between -3.25 and -8.00 you are elgible for the surgery. If your eyes are better than -3.25 then a waiver may be granted for you to proceed to pilot training. Once you complete pilot training, you can ask your commander if you can undergo surgery. So it basically means if your eyes are bad, dont give up hope if you want to become a pilot. </p>
<p>P.S For those who don't want to become pilots, the surgery can be done your Firstie year.</p>
<p>bah now I'm confused. I've got 1.75 which I thought was better than -3.25 so I'd be getting surgery (assuming I'm flight Q'd otherwise[and I make it in the academy]) after flight training instead of at the academy?</p>
<p>...-3.25???</p>
<p>That confuses me too... i'm a -1.75 and I'm not allowed to fly civilian aircraft without contacts. honestly i don't even think i'd feel confortable flying without them... and then to say i can get waived for vision even worse?</p>
<p>dlodge is right, i asked the USAFA PRK officer at orientation myself as well. i'm assuming if you get the waiver to go to UPT, then you wear contacts or glasses while training? or do you request the surgury before you undergo training?</p>
<p>Yeah, you would wear your glasses during pilot training if you got a waiver.</p>