I signed up for this forum because I am really interested in the NUPOC program (and apparently very much qualified for it). Unfortunately, I may not be medically eligible, and I am looking for someone who could tell me whether or not that is the case. Is there someone who is up to date on what the Navy's medical authority will or will not waiver? If you guys don't know, could you refer me to anyone with the Navy that might?
I have spoken with a recruiter who is trying to help, but he is not sure about my situation; he did, however, tell me that I am a very strong candidate for the program. I just finished the junior year of my BS in chemical engineering with my GPA at roughly 3.9, and I have no criminal record. My problem is my medical issue: I am as blind as a bat. My refractive error is -9.5 in one eye and -10.25 in the other. I found out that I was outside the waiver limits when I tried to sign up for AFROTC.
In theory, my eye sight should not be a problem. It has been totally correctable with glasses or contacts for about ten years, and soon I won't even need those. I met with one of the most recommended surgeons in the Kansas City area. He told me that I am too near-sighted for LASIK or PRK but that my eyes are otherwise in perfect health - that makes me an ideal candidate for this new operation called a Phakic IOL (an artificial lens implanted over your natural lens), which should bring me down to 20/20 vision. The procedure is really popular with the army; thousands of them have been done with a success rate of like ninety-nine percent. Unfortunately, the Navy is more like the Air Force. They have more applications than there are jobs available, so they are picky about medical criteria. I just need to know how picky. Can someone help?