Aviation Medicine

I have not seen any information about Scleral Lacerations anywhere. My case: I was 3 years old when a piece of glass broke in front of me and a small piece chipped off and cut the white part of of my left my eye. It was a very small, 3mm cut, occurred about a half centimeter from the limbus. I had surgery to repair the cut and never had any issues since (now 22 years later). I was cleared through MEPS and had no issues with depth perception, color vision, or anything other than being about 20/40 (correctable to 20/20) in that eye (right eye is 20/20 uncorrected). It was not easy getting documentation from this incident but forunately I was able to retrieve a post op…

Is there any way in the world Intacs can be waivered? Thanks

My son is 17 and talks daily about signing up for the service (he's leaning Air Force...yeah!). The reality hit me the other day that he was diagnosed with Protein S Deficiency as a child. We had him tested ten years ago after I had multiple blood clots and was found to have the disorder. He has never had a clot and is NOT on anticoagulants. In fact, the hematologist always told us to not alter his lifestyle or restrict his activities because the probability of him getting a clot is less than 3%. The course of action is to do nothing different until he actually gets a clot, which will likely be never. Will this 11 year old diagnosis make him medically disqualified? If so,…

Hello all, Im new to this forum, and yesterday found out that I would need surgery on my jaw to correct my bite. My back teeth come together though my front teeth have a gap between the top and bottom. The orthodontist told me this is in no way urgent, or serious, though it could cause problems later in my 40's or 50's (I'm 22 now) This does not affect my speech or anything at all, just mainly a slight comfort issue right now. My main goal is to fly in the military, and I was wondering if anyone knows if this is something that I should wait to do well into my career, or if this needs immediate attention. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Both of my siblings were diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I'm getting tested for it next week. I was wondering in the case if I show positive for having it is it waiverable and what is the DNIF period for the synthetic thyroid medication I'll have to take? I'm a Career Enlisted Aviator i.e. Class-III. Thanks!

So, I am currently in high school, but am planning for a future in the AF. I have a 4.0GPA, tons of leadership, community service, mission trips, 28 ATC score, etc. So, I am not currently worried about getting an ROTC Scholarship, but, my eyesight is bad. I wear glasses/contacts with a prescription of -2.00 in one eye and -1.75 in the other (probably around -2.5 now!). So my distance vision is bad. Do I have a chance at a pilot spot? IF so, will it be a good chance and how could I go about that way? Thanks!

Hello, I am a first year medical student in the Air Force HPSP program. I'm interested in both Aerospace and Emergency med. I've always had problems focusing but it has never been a problem until now. I spoke with my advisor(an M.D.), and he seemed to be concerned that I may have ADD and recommended I get checked. I was wondering how this would affect my career in the Air Force if I decided to go in to Aerospace or Emergency Med and if this could affect promotions, etc? Could I even go into Aerospace Med if I were diagnosed? If it would cause any problems I do not plan on following up on this. (I'm passing but not doing as well as I could) However, I know that if I…

3rd year of AFROTC, admin staff decided to surprise all FA13 commissionees with the news that medical waivers need to be in by Dec. 31 for the rated board. I realize it's unrealistic to expect a waiver by that time, so what are my options? I've already asked the SSgt in admin who's supposed to be knowledgeable about medical issues a year ago and she didn't give me any useful information. If I have to push my commissioning date back, I might be able to.

Hello, I am looking for information on spinal cysts or tumors. I have had a small bump just under the skin on my spine since I was a child. I have read the Air Force waiver guide on this subject but still have questions. Does anyone know the likelihood of receiving a waiver for this. Also, can one candidate receive multiple waivers? I recently had PRK, so I would need two. Thanks!

Is there any precedent for flyers taking Naltrexone? AFI 148-123 gets no hits.

About ten years ago when I was a young teenager I had low blood pressure which lead to dizziness and occasional fainting when standing up too fast. I never had any periods of unconsciousness, nor did I suffer any head injuries (I'd typically just land on a couch or sit down on the floor if I felt one coming on). I refuse to lie to a direct question, like those about blood pressure and fainting spells, so I plan on disclosing this info. I have had totally normal blood pressure ever since. Should this be a problem trying to get a UPT or CSO training slot through OTS? Ditto for Navy pilot/NFO.

FYI for the general Air Force population: The new AFI 10-203 published the other month switched the PT restrictions on an AF 422 from the Exercise Physiologist back to the PCM (your normal doc) and everything is documented on the AF 469. So the AF 469 generated at your appointment for whatever condition you have can include, all on one form, the Duty Restriction (what you can't do at work), Mobility Restrictions (whether you can deploy), Fitness Restrictions (what PT activities you shouldn't perform), and Fitness Assessment Exemptions (self-explanatory). This is essentially switching back to the procedures in 2006. The reason this may not have been announced or impleme…

Would a fractured coronoid process keep someone off of flying status? My friend has seen two dentists and an oral surgeon with regard to this, they all said there is really nothing you can do except let it heal on its own. Which should take about 6 months. I know that he has trouble eating foods that require a lot of tearing, but other than that he still gets along with no other physical issues. But again is this something that would cause him to be placed DNIF and if so for how long?

Will a Varicocel DQ me at MEPS or my Flight Physical? I am really concerned and thank you for your help in advance!

Hello! I'm a former Navy pilot who left active duty about 9 years ago, but I'd like to fly for the Air Force Reserves. 8 years ago I was (wrongly) prescribed antidepressants for less than 5 months and am now wondering if I will be disqualified. I have this letter (below) from my physician that states I did not have a mental disorder. Any thoughts on whether or not I'm screwed? No recurring symptoms or medical conditions. Many thanks!!! GoGoJuice "To Whom it May Concern: Approximately eight years ago, patient was prescribed an antidepressant (Effexor) for less than five months. At the time he was suffering from mild depression and anxiety, and was havin…

Searched around and couldn't find a clear answer on this. What's the process like after completing the FC1/MFS? Does it still need to go to the GB for approval? If you leave Dayton with no waivers is it just waiting on signatures or is there still a chance to be DQ'd?

Dudes, more of my story to come, but if you are an ANG part timer and get sick or injured, know the regs. The leadership doesn't know them, and there is a lot of help out there for you. My story cannot be told for a bit, some of you know it, but I ended up doing pretty good. Your peers and your subordinates probably don't know this info, most of the pilots at my base don't know it. See attached if you are sick or injured while on duty status or your illness can be tracked back to duty status. Sorry, it was made in pages on a mac. This should be posted in every ANG/AFRC units CC's office. Outline2.pages

Hey guys, first post here. Non-prior, selected by a guard fighter unit last month. Haven't even gotten to MEPS yet as my prescreen was denied "history of ITP" and now my waiver request was denied by the SG also (ironically for the same reason which doesn't say much). 10 yrs ago I was diagnosed with ITP (a blood disorder which causes blood clotting problems). A couple months later I had a laparoscopic splenectomy which is the typical way to treat this. Almost immediately my blood labs returned to normal and have been there ever since. No sicknesses or infections, health as a horse ever since. A history of ITP is disqualifying per the DODI 6130.03, but it is waiv…

Hello all, I have spoken with some of you on the board regarding the Exception to Policy Request Package process. I am a Civilian OTS Pilot Select Overview: I was dq’d following my IFC-1 due to only being outside the cycloplegic refractive error limit. I was able to pass every other vision test. I have taken the following months to research the process, seek multiple medical opinions and have compiled what myself and other qualified people feel to be a very convincing package. I have submitted my package to my recruiting office. Before it is sent up the chain, the commander would like to see an example of a previously submitted and approved package to use as a comp…

I got a feeling this is a huge shot in the dark ,but I''m currently looking into applying for the ANG and hoping for a position flying, but I know USAF medical standards can be pretty strict compared to the other branches. I've looked into all the other branches and AD or Reserve, but long story short, ANG is the direction I want to go in right now. I have an issue of corneal degeneration in my right eye at the moment that has never been a problem to my vision and last I saw the optometrist my vision was still good but I fear that this may not completely put me in the clear as far as flying for ANG is concerned. It's never been a problem as far as I can tell and …

Hey guys, Looking for some guidance for a buddy of mine. We are currently in UPT and he has managed to dislocate his shoulder and was medically DQ'd. Unfortunately, he had dislocated it previously years ago and gotten surgery. The surgery seemed to have taken and he was granted a waiver. Now that he has dislocated it again he was DQ'd because of "shoulder instability" and was told by the flight docs that he is done. I can provide more details as required but the big picture question I'm getting at is; will the ANG be able to work some drug deal and approve him to continue training? Maybe through an ETP or somthing? (I have no clue what I'm talking a…

Hello all, As the title states, do you need any kind of medical certification with the FAA on the civilian side to fly military? I am trying to become either a pilot or navigator and want to know what's required. Also what level/ certifications of medicals are required for pilots/navs? Thanks in advance!

I just completed my IFC1 exam and was DQ'd due to cycloplegic refractive error. Everything else was fine and was approved for FC1A, flight med said they'd send up a waiver request. My cycloplegic refractive error is -4.00 in both eyes and my vision correctable to 20/15 in both eyes. Does anyone think my waiver has a possibility of getting approved?

Thanks for reading! I am an active duty Marine Special Operations Officer with Marine Special Operations Command. I recently hit the lottery and got hired by an Air National Guard unit to go to flight school and fly jets for them. The day before my flight physical Wright Patterson called to let me know I can't do the physical because I have a back surgery on my record. In 2011 I was wounded twice in Afghanistan and had some minor surgeries to recover in the coming years, and one was a micro-discectomy L5-S1 and was back to full duty two months later. I have done over two years of operations since the minor back surgery and multiple training and combat deploym…

Does anyone here have experience with dry eye and getting your pilot physical at Wright Patterson? I've got symptoms of dry eye that are unconfirmed by a doctor, mainly that I just have to use eye drops after waking up because my eyes are dry, or after hours looking at a bright computer screen in low humidity. I have my physical scheduled in a few months, and I want to tackle this so it has the least chance of causing me to get DQed. I've read the Air Force Waiver guide on dry eye and it offers a grading system for which grade 1 seems to be hardly an issue, but grade 2+ is unwaiverable for FC1. It doesn't offer a ton of guidance on allowable treatment. Since my sympt…