Glasses!

SirumC · 02-17-2005, 12:08 PM

Hey, I have a few questions regarding eye glasses...

I am sure some of you had to wear them, did it suck? I heard that you can have contacts in after boot camp.

What about laser eye surgery?, I heard that the military pays for that, is that true?
Well thats probably not a good idea since im only 18 right?

Thanks in advance......

02-17-2005, 01:13 PM

I had glasses since way back when, who knows 10 years old and had then in basic, AIT, Vietnam and through out my military and civilian life and for me at time yeah its a pain in the butt, but I was never one for contacts, don't like sticking my fingers in my eyes. Eye surgery probalby the best thing once you get out of basic and yes if you are headed to a combat zone, Uncle Sam will do it for free, last time I heard. Good luck

ANGRecruit · 02-17-2005, 06:08 PM

No, from last I heard but I have heard stories of recruits wearing contacts and hiding them from the DI's and putting them in their eyes in the morning. I think that is total BS, they will issue you BC glasses which they find out you will need at MEPS if your vision is too poor. I had laser surgery 3 weeks ago, its the greatest thing I ever did. I hated contacts and glasses, unfortunately I have to wait a year post-op before I can enlist in the CG but I did it more for the fact that I'm trying to become a cop in the meantime. Now, I have 20/15 vision and see better than a good majority of people who don't need glasses. I recommend having the eye surgery as long as you can wait the year before enlisting, at least that is what the CG recruiter told me unless different branches do things different ways as far as post-op time.

Rusty24 · 02-17-2005, 06:17 PM

Why get rid of the glasses that they issue you in basic? Chicks dig those things ..... it's like they are a chick magnet.

You can pay out of pocket once you are in to have the surgery, or depending on what type of unit you are in, will determine on how long you wait for Uncle Sam to pay.

Some of the infantry guys at Bragg are getting bumped right to the front, but the guy that is in fianace gets set back. The Army even went so far as to include some of the AF guys that assist them on their list. I know of three that have had it done.

Ram0528 · 02-17-2005, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Why get rid of the glasses that they issue you in basic? Chicks dig those things ..... it's like they are a chick magnet.

Did you really type that w/ a straight face?

SirumC · 02-17-2005, 07:01 PM

Would I have to wait a year after I get that surgery to join?? why is that... it doesnt take that long to heal..

Rusty24 · 02-17-2005, 07:15 PM

I don''t see why not. The guys that I knew that had the surgery were jumping in less than 2 weeks.

Quote:

Did you really type that w/ a straight face?

.... yep and I had a J&C to help as well!

ANGRecruit · 02-17-2005, 08:28 PM

The recruiter told me that, plus my doctor said your eye sight really doesn't fully stabalize until 3-6 months afterwards. Like in the mornings it takes a while to focus, plus i have to use eye drops, artifical tears for 6 months. I was told the reasoning is because its still a fairly new procedure to the average person and those in the military. Its been around for 20 years, but it use to cost like $10k an eye, (only the rich and upper upper class got it) now its like $2300 an eye for the best surgery. It hasn't been proven much in combat and they said military personnel are exposed to climates and conditions that the average person isn't. When its done by a military physician I'm sure their more accepting, but I doubt they would let you have it done 2 weeks or whatever before a deployment or anything like that.

02-17-2005, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ANGRecruit

No, from last I heard but I have heard stories of recruits wearing contacts and hiding them from the DI's and putting them in their eyes in the morning. I think that is total BS, they will issue you BC glasses which they find out you will need at MEPS if your vision is too poor. I had laser surgery 3 weeks ago, its the greatest thing I ever did. I hated contacts and glasses, unfortunately I have to wait a year post-op before I can enlist in the CG but I did it more for the fact that I'm trying to become a cop in the meantime. Now, I have 20/15 vision and see better than a good majority of people who don't need glasses. I recommend having the eye surgery as long as you can wait the year before enlisting, at least that is what the CG recruiter told me unless different branches do things different ways as far as post-op time.

Where did you get your surgery from and what kind(lasik,etc..)was it? Was it real expensive?

ANGRecruit · 02-18-2005, 08:43 AM

Yes it was Lasik, custom lasik actually (its the better one) $2300 an eye. I think part of the reason I have to wait a year before enlisting is because the military only accepts and does PRK, which is not as good as Lasik and I heard there can be more problems with PRK. Why the military is more accepting PRK and not Lasik, I have no idea.

02-19-2005, 06:02 AM

yeah man those BC's are umm.... well.... COOL!
Yeah you can hide your glasses from the rdc's and wear contacts, just do it in the first week or so before they remember that you wear them. DO take them out before the confidnce(gas) chamber. The waiting list for surgery is around 1.5-2 years last I heard.

SirumC · 02-19-2005, 12:09 PM

So they will issue me glasses, but I can put in my contacts before the DI's come in? And for the gas chamber I just wear my glasses? Wouldnt they know then...

Coota0 · 02-19-2005, 12:31 PM

Wear the glasses, rumor has it the DI's know everything. They also have a copy of your files in their office that say you need glasses. I wouldn't take the chance on getting an honor violation for something so stupid.

Side Question, took my flight physical and the optomistrist said I had 20/25, will I be issued glasses at Boot?

Field_Sailor · 02-19-2005, 05:57 PM

DOn't try to fool the DI's. You're in Boot, who gives a shit how you look? It's the military, not a damn fashion show. If I were a DI (which I'm not) and I caught someone doing something so stupid, I'd do everything in my power to quick their asses out of the Military, with no way to come back!

HONESTY, INTEGITY, HONOR, ever hear of them???

BrianP · 02-19-2005, 08:46 PM

Hiding the fact that you wear glasses in Basic training cause they look ugly? now that sounds strange... so what if they are ugly your in boot camp,there is no reason to try and look good in boot camp unless you are trying to pick up guys in which case maybe you should think of another career to get in