stuckindayton

IF the eyeball portion of your exam is driving an MRI, then you may have something more significant than routine optic nerve cupping such as optic atrophy, optic neuropathy, or optic disk pallor. Any of those could be associated with excessive cupping as the nerve is essentially degenerating from a pathology which kills nerve fibers and increases the cup size. It's possible, but would be exceptionally rare for a young healthy person. For IFC I exams, 99.99% of the time excessive optic nerve cupping is simply an anatomic variation of normal and the Air Force's exceptionally conservative policy requires work-ups on a large percent of people who would not be routinely worked up as part of a routine exam. If you want to know why you're getting an MRI, PM and I'll tell you. If you'd rather not reveal your identity I totally understand and respect that. But it's not fair to take my response as "I don't know" when I don't have all the information.

You don't get an MRI for excessive optic nerve cupping.

Good post. Do we make it that obvious how much we hate this policy? It is what it is. Hopefully it will get changed in the near future. The techs who run the visual fields will be happier than anyone. It sucks to take it, but imagine giving the test 5x times a day.

Nothing listed here would drive a brain MRI. If you want to PM me I can look into it further.

It doesn't change the time to process your physical. I think they say around 4-6 weeks.

It's a little difficult to explain the differences between IFC I and MFS. Some of the differences are historical. For example, the IFC I does not require a corneal topography. That is because decades ago, corneal topography was not readily available. Thus, it was done at Brooks (now Wright-Patt) as part of the MFS. Also, the MFS includes color vision and red lens testing as part of the eye exam. I believe that was due to the fact that there was some inconsistency on how these tests were being administered at the local bases so they decided to have them done as part of the MFS. Finally, there is a computer based "Neuro-psych" test that is part of MFS simply because the testing software was not available anywhere but the ACS (Brooks/Wright-Patt) or the USAFA. If you've had an IFC I completed at your local base, you will come to Wright-Patt for the MFS (Medical Flight Screening) exam. Generally, this will consist of the items listed above. You will almost never have your eyes dilated. However, if there are any questions lingering from your IFC I exam, they will be re-evaluated at Wright-Patt, including dilation in rare cases. Most folks have a combined IFC I/MFS done at either Wright-Patt or USAFA. It's typically the OTS folks who come for a MFS only. Let me know if you want more info.

I believe most physicals take around 6 weeks to process. Requiring waivers does not change this. If someone is on a short timeline, their physical will get expedited. BTW- there is no longer a visual acuity standard. You simply have to meet the refractive error requirements (-3.00 for myopia, -1.50 for astigmatism and +2.00 for hyperopia).

There are no longer any limitations on airframes after PRK or LASIK. Any reference to that is outdated. I didn't mean that docs do PRK as their main practice, I meant they do a lot of refractive surgery. In the civilian world, that means LASIK because civilians want quick, painless recovery. Most civilian docs are going to be fully competent. I would just shy away from the guy advertising on the Sunday paper for $250 and eye. Anyone quoting really low prices is not using top quality equipment as the good lasers have a click fee (the doc has to pay a fee every time they use it). So cheap procedures are using old, cheap(er) lasers that don't have a per use fee.

Correct, meets standards, no waiver.

PRK or LASIK are equally acceptable for applicants. There is no bias on the AF side. You are correct that the concern with LASIK is flap stability, although many folks think the femtosecond (Intralase) flaps may be more stable than the traditional microkeratome flaps. Many folks associated with the AF have gotten PRK as it was the original approved procedure and that drove momentum to stick with it. Right now it's about 80/20 PRK to LASIK for trained flyers at AF centers. Most people consider PRK to be more conservative as you're not cutting into the cornea, but there is certainly a slower recovery. Regarding finding a surgeon, my only advice is to 1) Find someone who does it as their main practice (i.e. does a lot), 2) Isn't competing for the lowest price in town and 3) Uses a top quality laser. That goes alone with #2. Docs who work on the cheap use old, lousy lasers.

The decision between PRK and LASIK is strictly up to you. The AF doesn't care as long as you have a good outcome. As far as you prescription is concerned, I don't know which public websites are current. If you want to either post or PM your Rx, I'll let you know where you stand.

Regarding the vision tests, this is the best advice anyone can offer. If you want to be a pilot, your eye exam at Wright-Patt is the most important eye exam of your life. Prepare for it. Get examined by a civilian or military doc and figure out if there is ANYTHING wrong with your eyes. If so, fix it if at all possible. I can assure you that if BEEPBEEP had not be so proactive, he would not be heading to UPT today. His work ethic and attitude was the difference in passing and failing. Obviously, some things are not within one's control, but give yourself the best chance possible.

I don't think you'll meet many high ranking folks at OTS and you certainly won't get to know them well enough to have them support an ETP. When you get an assignment, you'll have time to get to know those above you.

Gonzo, As you suspect, you likely are not waiverable for IFC I (Pilot applicant), but certainly could be for CSO/RPA. I know it's not what you're shooting for, but keep it in the back of your mind. An ETP is a non-medical process by which the line (operational folks) are disregarding what the medical folks are saying. It has to go up to the Vice CSAF so you need some serious top cover. At a minimum you'll likely need some flag officers who are willing to endorse you and get the ear of the three star. It happens, but not frequently. However, you have nothing to lose by asking.

Dynamite is right. You're going to Wright-Patt either way. If you get your FCI at Dover, then you'd go to Wright-Patt for the MFS only. If you go to Wright-Patt, you'll get a combined FCI/MFS. I don't know if there is a shorter wait list for the MFS only vs. the FCI/MFS combined. If you live very close to Dover, it's probably a wash. However, if it's a 2+ hour drive, you're likely to be making multiple trips to Dover as the odds of them getting everything done in one day is very low. I can guarantee you that Dover is not even close to the efficiency of Wright-Patt, where there is a dedicated branch designed to process physicals. That's just recruiter talk.

If you get LASIK/PRK after your IFC I and before UPT, your IFC I (eyeball portion) will be invalidated and you'd have to re-accomplish it.

The waiver guide. I was referring to his question about hypothyroid.

It is DQing, however easily waiverable if controlled with medication.

Yep. You could be 20/400 or worse and it no longer applies as long as you don't exceed -3.00.

Your understanding is correct. It doesn't matter if you are 20/125 or 20/200 uncorrected as long as your refraction is not worse than -3.00. It sounds like you are sitting pretty.

I'm not clear on your refraction. I'm assuming you are saying Left: -2.50 Sph, R: -2.25-0.25x??? If nothing has changed you meet standards. You can always get LASIK if you want, but it would be for elective purposes.

At -6.25 you shouldn't have any problems. Unless it was -6.25 with some astigmatism in minus cylinder format. Good luck.

I'd try it if it were me. Theoretically, you shouldn't have been waiverable as a trained asset above -8.00. So if you got a waiver one time, what's the difference this time around? Plus, waivers are offered determined based on operational need. It sounds like they need as many pilots as they can get.

-8.00 is pretty hard and fast, with the possible exception of initial RPA pilot. I think I've seen waivers around -9.00 for them. If you or your friend was above -8.00, but considered a trained asset, there may be a glimmer of hope. We had a B-1 pilot leave and come back years later. Even though he was going through the IFC I process due to the length of his departure, he was treated as a trained asset and waived for a condition that never would have been waived for IFC I.

I think the most recent change was around 2007. The pre-op limit for myopia went from -5.50 to -8.00. If you have any questions, post the pre-op refraction and I can take a look.