I was just looking through some discussions, mainly bootcamp and AST A School. I want to become an AST in the future but in one of the discussions they mentioned a "flight physical." My main concern is that I wear glasses. I can drive w/o them but i have problems with items from a distance. My questions are can I still join? Does military offer lasik or any way of helping my chances of getting into AST A school?

You need to have correctable 20/20 and not have an astigmatism greater than -1.0. Im sure your eyes would be fine. I would not worry about lasik.

Thanks a lot. Now I have to worry about bootcamp.

Here is what the manual says about vision and flying.


j. Distant Visual Acuity. Distant visual acuity shall be not worse than 20/200 in either eye and if worse than 20/20 must be correctable to 20/20 with spectacle lenses. When the visual acuity of either eye is worse than 20/20 correction shall be worn at all times while flying.
k. Oculomotor Balance. The following are disqualifying:
(1) esophoria greater than 10 prism diopters;
(2) exophoria greater than 10 prism diopters;
(3) hyperphoria greater than 1.5 prism diopters;
(4) prism divergence at 20 feet and 13 inches is optional. These tests shall be accomplished only on designated aviators who have sustained significant head injury, central nervous system disease, or who have demonstrated a change in their phorias.
l. Eyes. Any pathologic condition that may become worse or interfere with proper eye function under the environmental and operational conditions of flying is disqualifying. History of radial keratotomy, PRK, LASIK or other refractive surgery is disqualifying.
m. Near Visual Acuity. Uncorrected near vision (both eyes) shall be not worse than 20/200 correctable to 20/20, with correction worn in multivision lenses while flying if uncorrected near vision is worse than 20/40 in either eye.
n. Color Vision. Normal color perception is required. (If shown to be normal on previous exam, may be so noted.)
o. Depth Perception. Normal depth perception is required. When any correction is required for normal depth perception it must be worn at all times.
p. Field of Vision. The field of vision for each eye shall be normal as determined by the finger fixation test. When there is evidence of abnormal contraction of the field of vision in either eye, the examinee shall be subjected to perimetric study for form. Any contraction of the form field of 15o or more in any meridian is disqualifying.
q. Refraction. There are no refractive limits.
1-9
r. Ophthalmoscopic Examination. Any abnormality disclosed on ophthalmoscopic examination that materially interferes with normal ocular function is disqualifying. Other abnormal disclosures indicative of disease, other than those directly affecting the eyes, shall be considered with regard to the importance of those conditions.

There's a little more to it than just correctable to 20/20. You have the uncorrected limits too.

1. One for getting in the CG,
2. One for being an AN Candidate.
3. One for your normal bi-annual PE.

Below is a post I did back on June 11th for someone else. Numbers 2 & 3 above are the stringent ones.

As a candidate for enlisted aircrew, uncorrected is 20/100, correctable to 20/20. (This means your initial Class II Flt Physical to screen for the AN Program)

Once a designated enlisted aircrew, it's 20/200, correctable to 20/20. (This means after you complete an Aviation A School you have to maintain this for the rest of your flying career)

Med Manual, Ch 3, Pg 41, Figure 3-C-3

Eye surgeries are complicated and dynamic. I suggest talking to your local CG Flt Doc and read the Med Manual and Aviation Med Manual (two different ones). Get informed......

Aircrew Program manager sends.

Okay so I think im fine on that. Thanks for the replies