Weapons systems officer

yeah,
To give you an idea, I can read the writing on the pc screen upto about a meter away. Further than that and I can't read it at all.

My bit of paper tells me you need to have uncorrected 6/24 vision correctable to 6/6 with a -2.00 to +3.00 refraction range. I guess +3.25 and +4.00 put you out of the limits.

You would, bizarrely, be eligible to be a WSOp(L) with that level of eyesight though.

Dammit.. there is no way in hell I would be a linguist! ... I got all A's at GCSE and a D in the language I was taking... shows how crap I am at them :thumpdown


Is it also true that even after laser surgery to correct your eyes you still can't get in? if so do you have any idea why?

Thanks

Hi, I was reading about laser surgery in an aviation safety book the other day and what it said was pretty interesting. Now, im no doctor but i think the general jist of the artical was somthing like this. There are three types of laser eye surgery, two old and one new. The two old tecniques weaken parts of the eye and there is a possibility that under the strains of G the eye may fail, for example, one of the tecniques takes a minute layer of the retiner off the back of your eye and under G force that could rupture, therefor the RAF, wisely, discount anybody with laser eye surgery from entry.

However the artical also seemed to offer a slight glimer of hope to those people who would be fine after surgery. Fore the third and new tecnique apparently does not weaken any part of the eye and so there is no argument (as of yet) as to why it should discount you from service. However at the moment it is not possible for you to join as a Pilot or WSO if, inorder to get into the eye sight range, you have to have laser surgery of any kind.

Sorry mate, best get reading up on your arabic and russian languages!!

However the artical also seemed to offer a slight glimer of hope to those people who would be fine after surgery. Fore the third and new tecnique apparently does not weaken any part of the eye and so there is no argument (as of yet) as to why it should discount you from service.

...I have heard of "eye exercises" that you can do which somehow improve your vision quite drasticly but I don't know if they really work. But you can always hope...

Dammit.. there is no way in hell I would be a linguist! ...

You're half right. There're three types, as you say; LASIK, LASEK, and PRK.

Two of them; LASEK and LASIK (laser epithelial keratomileusis and laser in-situ keratomileusis) involve creating a corneal "flap" which is lifted. The eye underneath is reshaped by laser, then "natural suction" holds the flap in place as it heals. LASEK preserves more of the cornea so healing is shorter.

PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) involves ablating the surface of the cornea, so nothing is cut; the surface it worn down to a different shape, affecting vision in the desired way.

Anyway, they've decided that LASIK and LASEK are unsuitable because there's a risk of the cornal flap detaching under G or the forces experienced during ejection. Also, one of the types affects night vision, with point sources become a little flared; you'd be no use for night flying.

PRK has been ruled as safe for pilots. However, in the same way that current aircrew can wear contact lenses and glasses, it's ONLY CURRENT AIRCREW can serve after this surgery.

You cannot have the surgery then join; in the same way you can't have glasses when you apply. If you're brave enough to go for a consultation with an RAF opthalmologist then take up to a year of flying after, a pilot currently serving can have PRK.

However, it's always a risk, and it's made clear that if I were to do it and damage my eyesight; tough.

I should imagine that you will always require natural perfect vision to join as a pilot; there's no need to let people in who need glasses or surgical correction.

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Google the "Bates Method."

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Never, ever, ever make decisions about an application based on things people tell you on this forum or others. I may have a bit of paper sitting here telling me you need +/-3.00 vision, but there's no guarantee it's in date, it's correct, that your eyes are as you think, or even that someone here is telling the truth. Although I am

This forum is an excellent repository for advice and information, but regarding anything medical it's always best to:

1. Tell the truth on your form completely and utterly to the best of your ability.
2. Go to OASC and let them make the decisions on your medical fitness.

Don't leave an application untested because someone tells you they think you're out of medical limits.

And if I did have it done I would only be able to be a WSO, but not a pilot, what about weapon systems officer does that count as pilot?

So let me get this straight. I have to allready be serving to have the surgery, I can't have it done then apply? and if I did have it done I would only be able to be a WSO, but not a pilot, what about weapon systems officer does that count as pilot?

Thanks for the usefull info

Before anyone mentions it, yes, feasibly you could join as a WSOp(L), train, operate for long enough to amortize your training costs, get accepted for a ground job for long enough to have PRK, and then apply to cross over to pilot.

Anyone who actually considers that as a career path however, is utterly mad.