Refractive Eye Surgery For Usaf Pilots? -411
I’m applying to Air Force OTS and SUPT. I’ve already passed the MEPS and flight physicals, and my PCSM score is a near-perfect 97 (that’s out of 99, not 100 mind you) which would virtually guarantee me of a pilot’s slot were it not for my eyesight, which is about 20/200 in both eyes, and disqualifies me from a pilot’s slot. It is just about within limits for a navigator position, but I really don’t want to have to settle for a nav. slot when I have a such scintillating PCSM score (and I could even bring the score up by one more point if I were to log 40 more flight hours). Is there any type of corrective eye surgery I can undergo to qualify for a pilot’s slot? (note: I meet all the other necessary medical qualifications and I’m more than willing to commit to the ten years; several other military pilots have blogged me and said that I should try to have the surgery to qualify for a pilot’s slot because I’d be miserable as a navigator).
Tags: Pilots, Refractive, surgery, USAF
June 19th, 2011 at 10:43 am
congrats yes it will help you had mine done 5 yrs ago no glasses since Semper FI
June 19th, 2011 at 11:38 am
I don’t know how they would feel about getting this done in the public sector, but the only corrective eye surgery that is always approved is photorectractive keratectomy (PRK). The only downside to this otherwise superior surgery is that the recovery time is lengthy. I’ve seen people take as long as 3 months or so to fully recover, but its all worth it.
June 19th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
I believe the AF is accepting individuals for pilots slots who have had corrective laser surgery. Just make sure you do a lot of research and go with the absolute best.