Laser Eye Surgery —How old do u have to be-?-?
Im 17… and i want to fly planes or helicopters or sum thin. . I’m going into the military no matter what i don’t know what branch yet. i wear contacts and i want to get laser eye surgery but i dont know if i can because of my age? This is important to me, so if anyone can tell me how old you have to be fore laser eye surgery i would HIGHLY APPRECIATE IT!!
K O posted: 30 Aug at 2:15 pm
Late 20’s is best because your vision doesn’t stabilize until then, but you may be able to do it sooner. I recently read that they are starting to accept pilots that have had vision correction, but it is definitely very competitive and no guarantees. Your best bet would be to talk to the ROTC representative at a college and see what you need to do to meet your goals. Do not talk to a recruiter at a regular office, they will convince you to enlist and then it is really difficult to become an officer.
amoon E posted: 30 Aug at 2:15 pm
go to lasermyeye.org i hope it will help you.
Apollo posted: 30 Aug at 2:15 pm
I think you need to do a little more research into the military pilot career path first before you commit to having the surgery. First, even with perfect vision and perfect health, there is no guarantee that you will be selected for flight school once you get into the military. It is not like you just sign up and they automatically send you for flight training. It is highly competitive, even if you have absolutely perfect health. Make sure the military accepts people who have had the laser surgery.
Also, some branches of the military require a college degree to become a pilot. I’m not positive, but I think even the Army’s warrant officer program requires some college credits. So, you may still be a long way from flight training even under the best of circumstances.
You seem like you are still a little uncertain about exactly what you want to do ("I want to fly planes or helicopters or something", "I don’t know what branch yet"). I really think you need to figure those things out first and make sure they are really what you want.
I strongly recommend that you get all of the information about every single step of the career path and I suggest you explore every single option BEFORE you get the surgery. In other words, it would suck to go through the expense and risk of surgery only to find out that there are other problems you didn’t even know about before. Do your homework by talking to recruiters, pilots, veterans, and anybody else to get the information you need. Prove to yourself that the path you have chosen is the correct one before you start.
Good luck!
(Added)
I know you said that you plan to go to the military regardless, but for civilian pilot training you are permitted to wear glasses or contacts. You need a ton of money to do it though.
badgley792 posted: 30 Aug at 2:15 pm
Some places will do it as early as 18, but my opthalmologist recommended the best time to have it done is mid to late 20’s because your eyes will be leveled off. I am currently 27 and just had it done and I love it because I see 20/10 currently and see better than I did with glasses. I would definately recommend waiting a few years because chances are your prescription will change and you will have to do it all over again shortly to see your clearest. Good Luck!!
Someone posted: 30 Aug at 2:15 pm
I don’t blame you, everyone deserves perfect uncorrect vision. But laser eye surgery is not the answer. Vision therapy is. The AVI method helped me. My vision used to be 20/50. Now it is 20/15 uncorrected which is much better then 20/20. Seriously you should buy 1 of there books before you even consider dangorous and expensive surgery.
eyedoctor65 posted: 30 Aug at 2:15 pm
You are still young for laser refractive surgery,you can do it at 21 years old.
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