[Vision waiver info]

If you do want LASIK/PRK, I would just go ahead and get it done. Make sure you meet the pre-op requirements first! Your eyesight is only going to get worse, so now is the ideal time to do it. My LASIK waiver from FC-1 to approval was less than 30 days. If you find a good doc, don't cheap out and make sure you follow the post-op care, there is very little risk involved.

Just to add some info to the thread: Back when I did my FC-1, the optometrist at WPAFB was putting together a study regarding LASIK vs. PRK. Though the study was not complete, he thought people who were highly myopic (>5.00) did better with PRK and that people with less myopia (<5.00) did better with LASIK. Something to discuss with your doc before you get it.

I'm just more concerned with spending 2-5k+ when I live at home and only make ~8k a year working part time (while full-time in school). So if it's not entirely necessary to get it before I apply for OCS/OTS, I'd rather not pay for it.

[Vision waiver info]

Did you already scour all the pages of this thread? I think a few dudes on here ran into a similar issue.

I have now, and I'm still not fully clear.

If I opt to NOT get LASIK/PRK on my own, I do believe I am within the -3.00 waiverable limit. What are your options then? I saw about the soft-contact program, but I'd rather not have to wear contacts in the future if possible. If they (the AF) does LASIK/PRK on you, is the wait still one year from surgery date to attend pilot training? OCS isn't a year long, what happens between your surgery and pilot training (I assume the wait isnt a year long between those, or anywhere near that)?

What happens if you make it through OCS, and then get denied for vision for your pilot slot, are you done w/ the USAF if you want? Or are you under commitment at that point and re-classed?

[Vision waiver info]

I'm 22, going to be a college junior starting Fall 2013. I've worn contacts since high school, with my current prescription being -1.75 left and -1.25 right.

From what I've read online (every site I see disagrees with the previous site), 20/70 is either -1.0 or -1.25 or even -2.0.

My real question is, if I want to be a pilot, should I consider getting LASIK/PRK on my own? Or would it still be possible to get accepted to a pilot slot with my vision as-is? How does that work, if you get a waiver for vision? They perform the LASIK on you and then you still have to wait a year (doing what in that time period?)?