Air Force/Navy Pilots/laser eye surgery

BigSlideHimself · Post by **BigSlideHimself** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 2:42 am

A question asked many times, but never given the definitive response. Just curious if you can be an Air Force pilot if your vision was corrected with laser surgery.

roid · Post by **roid** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 2:54 am

in australia the air force uses INTACS surgery to correct vision.

i'm thinking the airforce just requires very good vision for it's pilots. If LASIK can give you that, then i'm sure it's fine too. HAve you already had LASIK done?

Couver_ · Post by **Couver_** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:07 am

Right now for the Navy its no. You can have the one where the scape on your eyeball (pkp?) and still be aircrew. I know some of our pilots wear glasses though. They just had to be 20/20 in the beginning and if their eyes let off a bit oh well. The Navy thinks laser corrective is to "new" to allow aircrew to get it. Something about if that flap would come open in high "G's" would be my guess. Us groundpounders can get it and be fine but it has to be done by a military doc.

Hostile · Post by **Hostile** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:12 am

Couver_ · Post by **Couver_** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 11:16 am

Hostile wrote:PRK

^^

What he said. Hos you should know better then anyone what the requirements are

(Plus the tricks to get around if you are close IE tons of water and rubbing your eyes

)

Sting_Ray · Post by **Sting_Ray** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 2:04 pm

In the army, the answer is usually 'no' unless it was done by a DOD approved "surgeon". Typically, they use LASIK/PRK on Helicopter pilots in the Army as tests to see the long term effects of refractive surgery on vision. But don't get your hopes up too high if you've had it done outside of the service.

BigSlideHimself · Post by **BigSlideHimself** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 7:04 pm

Couver, what do you do in the Navy?

Also, if you did get Lasik, how would they know? Not that I would lie, but I'm curious if they pull records or what.

Does anyone know the answer concerning the Air Force?

Sting Ray, you in the service?

roid · Post by **roid** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 7:21 pm

BigSlideHimself wrote:Does anyone know the answer concerning the Air Force?

not concerning the USA airforce if that's what you mean.

Couver_ · Post by **Couver_** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 7:37 pm

BigSlideHimself wrote:Couver, what do you do in the Navy?

Also, if you did get Lasik, how would they know? Not that I would lie, but I'm curious if they pull records or what.

Does anyone know the answer concerning the Air Force?

Sting Ray, you in the service?

I am an ATC (Chief Avionics Electronics Technician) I am in an instructor billet right now but I should be rolling after the new year back to a squadron.

Here is a bunch of goobly gook medical stuff you can wander through for A/F pilot medical stuff Here

They can tell you have had LASIK when they put that little hootigator up to your eye. They can see the scar from when they cut the flap and move it over prior to zapping your peeper. Plus they do some sort of slant mirror thingy too thats how they picked up the chemical burn scars in my right eye.

Sting Ray is in our honored senior service the Army.

Sting_Ray · Post by **Sting_Ray** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 10:23 pm

Like Couv said, I'm in the Army. An attack helicopter battalion actually. I've talked to pilots about laser eye surgery... they all tell me that it's easier to get in as a pilot with glasses than if you have had refractive surgery. But you can get it inside and be fine.

Hostile · Post by **Hostile** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 2:49 pm

Couver_ wrote:I am an ATC (Chief Avionics Electronics Technician)

Holy crap!! Congrats. I have been meaning to ask, but didn't want to make you bitter if you hadn't made it heh.

Couver_ · Post by **Couver_** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 4:19 pm

Hostile wrote:
Couver_ wrote:I am an ATC (Chief Avionics Electronics Technician)
Holy crap!! Congrats. I have been meaning to ask, but didn't want to make you bitter if you hadn't made it heh.

Thank you!!

Picked it up last year. I am no longer a boot chief I had fun during this years season