Does laser eye surgery disqualify you from being a military pilot?
Flip Spice
I have done some reading about some pilot programs in a few of the military branches. I came across something interesting that stated: If you have had laser eye surgery in the past, you are disqualified from becoming a pilot. Is this true?
My next question is, if it is in fact true, why would that disqualify you? Laser eye surgery can correct your vision back to 20/20 and that's what pilots are suppose to have correct? So wheres the logic in that?
Answer
Army (Rotary Wing)
The Army has very few fixed-wing aircraft. The vast majority of Army pilots are helicopter pilots. Army Aviators must pass a Flight Class I Flying Physical. To enter Army Helicopter Flight Training, as either a commissioned officer or warrant officer, the applicant can have vision no worse than 20/50 (correctable to 20/20) in each eye. After flight training, pilots can remain on flight status as long as their vision does not deteriorate beyond 20/400 (correctable to 20/20).
Normal depth perception and normal color vision is required.
Like the other branches, it is possible to apply for Army Flight Training and/or remain on flying status with laser eye surgery, if one is accepted into the Army's Aviator Laser Eye Surgery Study Program.
Air Force
To enter flight training, a candidate must pass a Flight Class I Flying Physical. To become a pilot, that means the candidates vision can be no worse than 20/70 (correctable with glasses to 20/20) in each eye. To enter Navigator Training, the candidate can have vision no worse than 20/200 in each eye (also must be correctable to 20/20).
After flight school, the standards relax a little. Pilots and Navigators who have already graduated flight training, can remain fliers as long as their vision doesn't deteriorate beyond 20/400 in each eye (correctable to 20/20).
Normal depth perception and color vision is required.
Effective May 21, 2007, applicants who have had LASIK eye surgery are no longer automatically disqualified from flight training. See related article.
Navy and Marine Corps
The Navy and the Marine Corps use the same standards (The Marines do not have their own medical department. They use the Navy for all medical procedures and standards). Navy Pilots must pass a Class I Flying Physical. To become a pilot in the Navy or Marine Corps, an applicant's uncorrected vision can be no worse than 20/40 (correctable to 20/20) in each eye. Once flight training begins, vision can deteriorate to no worse than 20/100 (correctable to 20/20) in each eye. After flight training graduation, if the eyesite deteriorates worse than 20/200 (must be correctable to 20/20), the pilot will require a waiver for carrier operations. If the vision deteriorates past 20/400 (correctable to 20/20), the pilot is restricted to aircraft with dual controls (ie, aircraft with co-pilots).
For Navigators (called "NFOs" or "Navy Flight Officers"), there is no vision requirement to enter flight training. However, the Navigator's vision must be correctable to 20/20 and there are limits on refraction. Refraction must be less than or equal to plus or minus 8.00 sphere in any meridian and less than or equal to minus 3.00 cylinder. No more than 3.50 anisometropia. After flight training, to continue on flight status there is no limit on refraction for NFOs. No waivers are authorized for NFO applicants who exceed these refraction limits.
Normal color vision is required for both NFOs and pilots. Normal depth perception is required for pilots and pilot applicants.
The Navy allows laser eye survery, both for current pilots and NFOs, and for pilot/NFO applicants, if they apply for, and are accepted to participate in the Navy's on-going study about laser eye surgery for aviators.
Hope this helps
Army (Rotary Wing)
The Army has very few fixed-wing aircraft. The vast majority of Army pilots are helicopter pilots. Army Aviators must pass a Flight Class I Flying Physical. To enter Army Helicopter Flight Training, as either a commissioned officer or warrant officer, the applicant can have vision no worse than 20/50 (correctable to 20/20) in each eye. After flight training, pilots can remain on flight status as long as their vision does not deteriorate beyond 20/400 (correctable to 20/20).
Normal depth perception and normal color vision is required.
Like the other branches, it is possible to apply for Army Flight Training and/or remain on flying status with laser eye surgery, if one is accepted into the Army's Aviator Laser Eye Surgery Study Program.
Air Force
To enter flight training, a candidate must pass a Flight Class I Flying Physical. To become a pilot, that means the candidates vision can be no worse than 20/70 (correctable with glasses to 20/20) in each eye. To enter Navigator Training, the candidate can have vision no worse than 20/200 in each eye (also must be correctable to 20/20).
After flight school, the standards relax a little. Pilots and Navigators who have already graduated flight training, can remain fliers as long as their vision doesn't deteriorate beyond 20/400 in each eye (correctable to 20/20).
Normal depth perception and color vision is required.
Effective May 21, 2007, applicants who have had LASIK eye surgery are no longer automatically disqualified from flight training. See related article.
Navy and Marine Corps
The Navy and the Marine Corps use the same standards (The Marines do not have their own medical department. They use the Navy for all medical procedures and standards). Navy Pilots must pass a Class I Flying Physical. To become a pilot in the Navy or Marine Corps, an applicant's uncorrected vision can be no worse than 20/40 (correctable to 20/20) in each eye. Once flight training begins, vision can deteriorate to no worse than 20/100 (correctable to 20/20) in each eye. After flight training graduation, if the eyesite deteriorates worse than 20/200 (must be correctable to 20/20), the pilot will require a waiver for carrier operations. If the vision deteriorates past 20/400 (correctable to 20/20), the pilot is restricted to aircraft with dual controls (ie, aircraft with co-pilots).
For Navigators (called "NFOs" or "Navy Flight Officers"), there is no vision requirement to enter flight training. However, the Navigator's vision must be correctable to 20/20 and there are limits on refraction. Refraction must be less than or equal to plus or minus 8.00 sphere in any meridian and less than or equal to minus 3.00 cylinder. No more than 3.50 anisometropia. After flight training, to continue on flight status there is no limit on refraction for NFOs. No waivers are authorized for NFO applicants who exceed these refraction limits.
Normal color vision is required for both NFOs and pilots. Normal depth perception is required for pilots and pilot applicants.
The Navy allows laser eye survery, both for current pilots and NFOs, and for pilot/NFO applicants, if they apply for, and are accepted to participate in the Navy's on-going study about laser eye surgery for aviators.
Hope this helps
How often does LASIK surgery not work out fine?
Karina
I'm thinking of getting LASIK surgery, because I have horrible vision, but I wanna know the risk. I would like to know what kind of percentage is there, that my surgery won't work out fine? Please help!
Answer
Most common complication is Dry Eyes Syndrome, 21% report
Second common complication is Undercorrection & Overcorrection
Third common complication is Night vision problem, Glare, Halos, Night-driving problem, 19.3% report
Starbursts after Lasik, 19.7% report
Haze after Lasik, less than 1% report
Induced Astigmatism after Lasik
Regression & Not Permanent after Lasik, less than 5% report
Epithelial Ingrowth after Lasik, as low as 0.2% and as high as 15%
Corneal Abrasion after Lasik
Flap Never Heals after Lasik, 2% report
Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis (DLK) after Lasik, 0.7% - 32% report
Infection after Lasik, 1:20 for Lasik versus contact lens use
keratoconus after Lasik, 0.04% - 0.6% report
the site give me a lot of help, u can check it
http://www.lasikreviews.co.uk/lasik-eye-surgery-complications-risks.htm
Most common complication is Dry Eyes Syndrome, 21% report
Second common complication is Undercorrection & Overcorrection
Third common complication is Night vision problem, Glare, Halos, Night-driving problem, 19.3% report
Starbursts after Lasik, 19.7% report
Haze after Lasik, less than 1% report
Induced Astigmatism after Lasik
Regression & Not Permanent after Lasik, less than 5% report
Epithelial Ingrowth after Lasik, as low as 0.2% and as high as 15%
Corneal Abrasion after Lasik
Flap Never Heals after Lasik, 2% report
Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis (DLK) after Lasik, 0.7% - 32% report
Infection after Lasik, 1:20 for Lasik versus contact lens use
keratoconus after Lasik, 0.04% - 0.6% report
the site give me a lot of help, u can check it
http://www.lasikreviews.co.uk/lasik-eye-surgery-complications-risks.htm
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Title Post: Does laser eye surgery disqualify you from being a military pilot?
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