Extreme refract waiver for navy?

Question

I have recently tried to join the navy, twice actually, and it has come to my attention that i have a severe refraction error and i was wondering what my chances are of getting a waiver. I went the first time to meps to take my asvab and then my physical. I scored a 98 on the asvab and they told me i could have any job i want, untill we made it to the physical. I was told my refract was high, around 8 something and that i would have to have a waiver. The doctor that told me this told me that he would give me the go ahead for the waiver but then when i made it to the control desk they told me that he had revoked it and that i would have to see a consult. Well, today i got the consult and he measured my refract at 10 something, but there were no signs of any degenerative disease. He also told me and wrote on my consult that it was correctable to 20\20 which he said was odd for that refraction. I wondering what my chances are of that waiver coming back positive over negative, and if they may take my test scores into consideration. My recruiter told me they would. Also, if it is negative what are the chances that if i get PRK surgery that they would give me a waiver for that? I have a baby on the way and I'm willing to do anything to make this work

Answer 1

As long as you meet the corrected vision standards with the use of eyeglasses or contact lenses, a waiver is a pretty routine thing for a refractive error which exceeds plus or minus eight diopters. In fact, that sort of medical waiver "leads the pack" on approved waivers. Your ASVAB score will also help in getting you the waiver. LASIK won't help because your refractive error already exceeds plus or minus eight diopters and LASIK done with that pre-surgical refractive error would automatically disqualify you anyway.

The source below is the medical standard which applies.