Can I become an army helicopter pilot if I have lasik eye surgery?
Blake asked:
My uncorrected vision is very bad, over 20/200 I believe. I realize that the worst uncorrected vision you can have to become a helicopter pilot in the army is 20/50, but If I get lasik eye surgery which corrects it to 20/20 would I be eligible for flight school?
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My uncorrected vision is very bad, over 20/200 I believe. I realize that the worst uncorrected vision you can have to become a helicopter pilot in the army is 20/50, but If I get lasik eye surgery which corrects it to 20/20 would I be eligible for flight school?
April 6th, 2010 at 11:12 pm
Typically, anyone who wears corrective lenses is ineligible to be a Pilot-Aviator, but can still be a Navigator-Aviator. (I wear glasses and considered military service when graduating High School). However, things have changed since then, so it may be the case that if you report to Basic with your corrective lenses, then have Lasik after Boot Camp, you may be able to go to flight school.
Check with a Recruiter for her (or his) advice in this matter — their information will be more up-to-date than mine. PenelopeM
April 9th, 2010 at 9:14 am
You are correct in that your uncorrected vision is too bad for you to be a helicopter pilot in the Army as is. However, you are also correct in that you can get LASIK surgery and still be eligible to apply if it corrects your vision to 20/20 or better.
The other poster is incorrect when he says that you have to have 20/20 uncorrected and that you cannot wear glasses at all to fly. You can and many people do. Once you finish flight school, your vision can get as worse as 20/400, but must still be correctable to 20/20. See AR 40-501, Standards of Medical Fitness which I have outlined and linked below:
Chapter 2
Physical Standards for Enlistment, Appointment, and Induction
2–12. Eyes
c. Cornea.
(1) Current or history of corneal dystrophy of any type (371.5), including but not limited to keratoconus (371.6) of any degree is disqualifying.
(2) History of refractive surgery including, but not limited to: Lamellar (P11.7) and/or penetrating keratoplasty (P11.6). Radial Keratotomy and Astigmatic Keratotomy is disqualifying. Refractive surgery performed with an Excimer Laser, including but not limited to, Photorefractive Keratectomy (commonly known as PRK), Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis (commonly known as LASEK), and Laser- Assisted in situ Keratomileusis (commonly known as LASIK) (P11.7) is disqualifying if any of the following conditions are met:
(a) Pre-surgical refractive error in either eye exceeds + 8.00 to - 8.00 diopters.
(b) At least 6 months recovery period has not occurred between last refractive surgery or augmenting procedure and accession medical examination.
(c) There have been complications, and/or medications or ophthalmic solutions are required.
(d) Post-surgical refraction in each eye is not stable as demonstrated by—
1. At least two separate refractions at least one month apart, the most recent of which demonstrates more than +/- 0.50 diopters difference for spherical vision and/or more than +/- 0.25 diopters for cylinder vision; and
2. At least 3 months recovery has not occurred between the last refractive surgery or augmenting procedure and one of the comparison refractions. Eagle1 Fox2
April 10th, 2010 at 5:06 am
Yes, you can assuming the surgery is successful. I know from firsthand experience. I was 20/150 in one of my eyes and was corrected to 20/15. Shawn