Comments on: What does the Navy think about laser eye surgery? Would it disqualify me from being a SEAL?

By: JRS1965

JRS1965 — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:30:19 +0000

I had PRK through the Army 6 years ago, I’m wearing glasses again. The Army now acepts PRK and lasik, not sure about the anchor klankers though…

By: navav8r

navav8r — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 05:59:03 +0000

Please read the answers you’ve gotten so far. Some scary and disgruntled.
As of a year ago there was only one laser eye surgery the Navy will accept for pilots and SEALS, and that is PRK. Lasik or Lasak type surgery involves a cut and move of the protective coating of the eye, laser correction then the replacement of the coating, like a flap. PRK has the laser penetrate thru the coating to do the vision correction and it will take about a week for the coating to regrow. Usually PRK is done one eye at time, so two weeks total. Having the “flap” as in Lasik or Lasak tends to leave slight scaring that you can’t see but when taking the pilot/SEAL entry physical can be detected. This also is assumed to be a weak spot in the eye covering that could be jarred loose when in heavy combat or pulling G forces. Contact your local Navy recruiter and let them know that you’re interested in joining the Navy and to apply to be a SEAL and your concerns about laser eye surgery. By the way, you can’t join to be a SEAL, you have to join the Navy in some job occupation of at set time (don’t quote me but I think it’s 2 years) before you can send your application to be concidered for SEAL training.

By: MCgunner

MCgunner — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 14:03:03 +0000

Well the DEP boy has all the studied answers, but since he didnt get around the rules, I wouldnt listen too much. After all, if you are going to be a SEAL, you arent going to get there by always being honest and doing what the navy doc tells you. Navy doctors are retarded for the most part anyway. I was in the Marine Corps (Dept of Navy) until 6 months ago. I was a infantry machinegunner. My fellow gunner was told that he could not have the laser eye surgery within 6 months previous to deploying to Iraq. He only had 1 month left before we deployed when he got it done. (privately with his own money) lesson- What they dont know cant hurt you. Just a thought. He did fine by the way.

By: lamemonkey2k5

lamemonkey2k5 — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:16:47 +0000

As a member of the navy’s delayed entry program, who leaves in august for bootcamp who also is trying to reclassify to SEAL after i was disqualified for my eyesight. I have eyesight of 20/40 and 20/75. If it’s correctable, and MEPS doesn’t fuck you like they did me whe they give you your eye exam and say it’s uncorrectable….the only requirement regarding eyesight is that it HAS to be able to be CORRECTED to 20/20. As long as they tell you that it’s correctable, and you fill out the appropriate waivers (ask your recruiter) then you should be able to class as SEAL. You might also be interested in EOD. If not then. go to your A school and work your regular job for 4 years, and reclass then. In all honesty, the Navy is hurting for SEALs, because not too many are qualified…I do believe that the current bonus for seals is around $40,000. Your local recruiter will probably tell you much of the same, but they’ll be able to go into much more detail with you and your particular situation. Also, if your eyesight is correctable, your health insurance policy through the navy will provide LASIK eye surgery at no cost.

By: pistons556

pistons556 — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:58:11 +0000

I don’t think that many people become SEALS anyway, so this is the least of your worries. I don’t really see how it would financially benefit you. If you want the surgery, get it, but don’t get your hopes up.

By: dagochef

dagochef — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 12:03:57 +0000

laser surgery in and of itself will not disqualify you, your vision at the time of testing is what matters. unfortunatly there are instances of degeneration associated with the surgery. i had lasix while it was still new and i was in the army spec ops. no problems.

By: emilyrose

emilyrose — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 03:06:11 +0000

I doubt they’ll mind. They don’t even have to know. It won’t show up on a medical exam. They’ll just see that you have good vision without any corrective lenses, which should be good enough for them.

By: kkiaserdrago

kkiaserdrago — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:59:29 +0000

When asked if you ever had laser eye surgery, lie and say no. its not nice, its not entirely ethical, but the navy will never do a test that could determine that you had the surgery. Nor will they ever know you used to wear glasses, and now you don’t, unless you tell them. Like i said, it ain’t pretty, but if you want to join the military, what’s in your heart is more important than the eyesight you were born with.

By: lilmiss_1421

lilmiss_1421 — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:44:19 +0000

i know a guy i work with and his dad is a seal and so isnt his brother..well he wanted to become one and he couldnt because of his eyes…i really hope you can though i wish you the best of luck…

By: meteorologist2020

meteorologist2020 — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:31:36 +0000

I don’t think so because as long as your eye vision stays at a certain level.