WT Forums

I know that you have to have 20/20 vision. However, I have heard mixed things about laser eye surgery. If you get surgery, are you allowed to fly assuming you are good enough to make it past training?

You have to be correctable to 20/20. Not sure how bad you can be before correction? I't used to be that PRK was the only approved laser surger by the AF for flyers but that may have changed? You'll have to do some research. There's all kinds of info on the net!

PRK = Good. Lasik = Bad.



ATTACK!!!!!!!

Not to take anything away from this site, but you may want to search the Baseops.net forum. It sounds like you are interested in possibly flying for the AF and Baseops is full of answers on that specific subject.

Good luck!



Edited by - VanceUPT on Dec 13 2005 09:49 AM

Just remember they are your eyes, make sure you really really really want the surgery. I have known many people not to be happy with Lasik. Dont know much about PRK.

Knew one genus who went to the doctor who was doing lasik on a special 600 per eye. Needless to say his eyes are screwed. If the doctor was any good why did he need to offer specials.



Edited by - mattlott on Dec 13 2005 5:33 PM

Theres a pics somewhere with a hog driver wearing glasses, i'll see if i can dig it out <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

Even if one could be a pilot with poor sight why would they want to do so?

Bad eyesight is a MASSIVE disadvantadge for a combat pilot(or a sniper for that matter), and can seriously f your world up.

<b>There are two kinds of soldiers.
Snipers...and targets.</b>
<img src="http://www.creedmoorsports.com/images/SA9121-M21.JPG" border=0>

I understood the correctable part was up to a point. Beyond that, they'll give you surgery to put you where you need to be, but you need to be in the pipe to becoming a pilot already.

It's been a while since I talked to the eye doc about this one. The biggest thing with the laser surgery is your correction. Beyond a certain point, nearsightedness can be a symptom of other problems. It's not the myopia that's the problem, it's the other things. Once they make sure you don't have any of them, you can get the surgery.

I got the impression that it's easier to get into a pilot program, then get the surgery. I myself would need a waiver either way. I had to get one just to enlist. And I got the impression(don't quote me, I'm probably wrong) that lasik was not okay for big corrections like mine(seven diopters), but more minor ones could get it.

Ignorance may be bliss, but it sure ain't fun!

_________________
Evil is evil, no matter how small.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Theres a pics somewhere with a hog driver wearing glasses, i'll see if i can dig it out <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>


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There are several pilots at B.C. who wear glasses including the Base commander!