I hate my vision

[wongskc]

Great (**end sarcasm**).  I got a call from the CFRC today.  My medical came back from Borden.  They said my vision is V4, so I don't qualify for any combat arms trades. :'(

This royally sucks as that's what I wanted to do.  So, I had to change my trade choices to weapons tech.  Not bad, but not exactly what I had in mind.  Oh well, they said that they might call within a week to give me an employment offer, and I'll accept whatever they hand to me, but this sucks!

On the bright side, they recruiter said I could go for laser eye treatment and after a wait period I could apply again, but my doctor doesn't recommend that for me for at least 5 more years.

I know this post doesn't serve any usefull purpose.  If I can't, then I can't.  I just had to say it to relieve some of the dissappointment.

 

[girlfiredup]

Sorry to hear about your situation.   For what it's worth.. I am a V1 corrected (laser surgery) but uncorrected I would probably end up a V4 so look (no pun intended) on the bright side..   you could always remuster into a combat arms trade after you get laser eye surgery.  

 

[Tyrnagog]

Sorry to hear about that, wongskc...  but if it's what you want.. 

you will get there.
sooner or later.

 

[Goober]

Great (**end sarcasm**).   I got a call from the CFRC today.   My medical came back from Borden.   They said my vision is V4, so I don't qualify for any combat arms trades. :'(

This royally sucks as that's what I wanted to do.   So, I had to change my trade choices to weapons tech.   Not bad, but not exactly what I had in mind.   Oh well, they said that they might call within a week to give me an employment offer, and I'll accept whatever they hand to me, but this sucks!

On the bright side, they recruiter said I could go for laser eye treatment and after a wait period I could apply again, but my doctor doesn't recommend that for me for at least 5 more years.

I know this post doesn't serve any usefull purpose.   If I can't, then I can't.   I just had to say it to relieve some of the dissappointment.

Sorry to hear that, maybe lazer surgery might be an option?

I don't suppose you know how you rank on the Snellen chart? I mean, 20/20, 20/30 etc..?

 

[Andyd513]

If you do summer block bmq/sq, save $2000 from it for surgery. Regardless of how far down the line it will be, invest it and whatever extra you end up with use as some bonus cash at the time.

If I may ask GirlFiredUp, where did you get your laser eye surgery done and what was your experience like? I'm planning to have it done when I get back from SQ, in the fall.

 

[Lebanese Canadian]

How much do u have in each eye, -5,-6,-7?

 

[Baskin]

when did your medical get sent to Borden? i've been waiting 3 weeks and it still hasn't returned. :-[

 

[girlfiredup]

If I may ask GirlFiredUp, where did you get your laser eye surgery done and what was your experience like? I'm planning to have it done when I get back from SQ, in the fall.

Hi Andy_d - My surgery was done 4 years ago at a clinic called Laser Eye Tech. The surgeon was Dr. Robert Morgan who now runs his own clinic on Elgin Street in Ottawa called Lasik MD.   He also has a clinic in Kingston.   He's constantly busy and often has sales.   I paid $680 per eye in 2000.   Have you looked into it all?   You would have to make an appointment to see if you are a good candidate. They will test your eye size/pupils, etc.. I'm not exactly sure how it works as I did my research 4 years ago and at the time I was scared to get it done but I'm so glad I did!   4 years later I have 20/20 in my left and 20/30 in my right.   With both together I'm 20/20.    No regrets.

 

[Andyd513]

Lasik MD is one of the few companies I've been looking at for this actually! Since I'm going to bmq at the end of the month I've decided to hold off, and just buy another pair of glasses. Hopefully they will be my last, as when I come back I'll be talking to my optometrist and seeing a laser eye specialist to determine if I'm elligible.

Just don't want any medical/eye complications so close to an extended period from home. Plus the money I make will help pay for it.

Anyway hope the little hiccup with your medical gets sorted out (think that was you in a diff thread). I've got a pretty complete info package from my unit now, so even if you don't quite make the course starting on the 28th theres another one starting around the 3rd-5th (would have to go look it up, can't remember if the 3rd is the course start date or my potential flight date).

 

[girlfiredup]

Thanks Andy_d.  I hope I can make it for June 28th or I believe next one is Jul 5th.

Lasik MD seems to be quite popular as is Focus Eye Centre but I think FEC prices are much higher.

The whole procedure (I had laser vs prk) was painless and quick!  I could see right away but they do tell you to keep your eyes closed for 24 hrs except for when you need to put drops in them with is every 2 hours I believe.  I only had pain when shortly after the surgery (very minor discomfort more than anything).  It felt like I had 2 hot sears in my eyes.. they were burning but eventually that goes away the same day.

Definitely get it done.  You won't regret it.

All the best!

 

[wongskc]

when did your medical get sent to Borden? i've been waiting 3 weeks and it still hasn't returned. :-[

My medical info went there and back in about 3 weeks.  Guessing by everyone else's posts here, the gods that rule over the decision board must be smiling on me.


... well, maybe only partly, they did after all classify me as V4 

 

[jutes85]

They recommend that you don't have Lazer Eye Surgery until you are 25, that way your vision is permenent.

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

For those of you that have had laser surgery done (I have V3) does it destroy your night vision like I hear it does?

 

[tabernac]

Do they accept people with laser eye surgery in the Air Force?

 

[D-n-A]

Yes, you can join the air force with LASIK, but you can't be a pilot though.

 

[tabernac]

Damn. Could you explain why? Is it because the method has not been proven?

 

[Andyd513]

From the researching I've done partial loss of night vision is a possible side effect that happens in less then 1% of cases, and is one of the more common effects. It happens to varrying degress but the vast majority of people that do LASIK don't actually have any adverse effects.

Theres lots of info available on the internet. The tale of laser eye surgery ruining everyones night vision who gets it is an urban legend.

I'd assume as far as why you can't be a pilot, there is still the chance of you going nightblind years after the surgery, or your eyesight degrading even more after they train you.. why would they sink the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars to train you when you may be disqualified several years down the line because your eyesight continued degrading after the surgery or your night vision steadily declines?

 

[wongskc]

The reason that the recruiters gave me as to why they don't like laser surgery for pilots is because they are not sure yet how the scar tissue in the eye will perform under the heavy gravity stress that fighter pilots undergo.  there is the possibility that the scar tissue could rip under the strain, and it immediately renders the pilot blind.

And thanks all for your support.  I too believe that where there's a will, there's a way.

 

[jutes85]

I've read somewhere that you can join the Air Force (US) with perfect 20/20 vision, and if it gets worse, they will do lazer eye surgery, and you can continue to fly for them. But as far as being a pilot with corrected vision, its unfortunately a no.

 

[Zoomie]

Wrongskc is correct...  The CF really has no clue how well LASIK surgery will hold up under intense onsets of G.  As all CF Pilots must complete 8 months of training in such an environment, this is a No-No.  Once trained, CF Pilots can be corrected 20/20 vision, just not during pre-wings training though.

A message to the originator of this thread.  Do not despair about your V4.  The trades that you will be offered will probably be far more fulfilling than that of combat arms.  Everyone joins the CF wanting to be the guy/gal with the pointy stick, but if they decide to make the CF a career they move on to more benign/rewarding careers.  I've met people in the Airforce (aircraft technicians) who started off in the Army as Airborne Recce.  What you are doing is simply being directed to a career MOC earlier than everyone else and thus being given a better chance for advancement in that field.  Good luck!