Posted: 7/4/2012 6:57:14 PM EDT
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Hey Everyone,
Need some advice here. I have had glasses/contacts since back when I was in 2nd grade. Well I'm coming up on turning 21 and have been doing some research on physical requirements for different agencies. They all have the vision requirement (for good reason). However it says that one needs a certain vision uncorrected (in case glasses/contacts get knocked off) and then correctable to 20/20, 20/25 etc. Well my problem is that without contacts I don't really fall into the close enough group. Is lasik a viable option? I know some agencies want a year between applying and the actual procedure to make sure everything is set. Do I have any other options? Thanks in advance |
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I'm in the same boat. From what I've dug up, LASIK is an option if you can have it done.
I've been turned away by surgeons for thin corneas. They told me that it's a pretty rare problem. There's also the $3-4k price tag, which can be an issue with having done before you have a decent job. I don't know exactly what you're wanting to do, there are a couple federal agencies that don't have that requirement, can't remember which ones (pretty sure FBI and maybe US Marshals. A lot of smaller town PDs also do not have any uncorrected vision requirement. |
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I want to go to Federal or State, local if is an option as to get the experience. I believe FLETC sets most of the requirements and the agency may or may not have different takes on it. It may also depend on position, agent, special agent, SWAT etc.
Do you know of any other options if Lasik isn't available? |
| Everything is waive-able/re-testable. I had eye issues (never had them before) getting my current job and i had to go see a private eye doc on my dime to overcome it. I sent that in and all was well. If you have time and want to, get the lasik. if you can get by with glasses, just get them and when medically cleared, get the lasik |
| I just did a quick search of FBI, DEA, ICE and Marshals vision requirements. They are all pretty much 20/200 uncorrected and at least one eye has to be correctable to 20/20. I would say most State Police are going to be similar. If I were you I would find a local eye doctor (real Doctor and not an Optometrist) and have him give you an exam. Tell him you are interested in Lasik and want to know if you are a good candidate. It's probably your only option. |
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My eyes were 20/400 and 20/450 before I had Radial Keratotomy, the precursor to LASIK.. The one where they use a knife on your eyes, If you want the job, have it done, DON'T lie about it and try to get some quack to give you a pass, you and your future co-workers deserve better.
It ain't flying for the military, I have never heard of an agency denying someone that had lasik. That was 19 yrs ago and I am just getting to the point I need reading glasses, sucks getting old.. 
Good luck. |
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We had a similar thread, but I forget where it went to.
Many of the job postings here will say something like: VISION REQUIREMENTS:
Uncorrected 20/40 orrected to 20/20 As a kid, when I mentioned about being a cop like Grandpa or a fireman like Great Uncle Matt my folks would explain that you could be no worse than 20/40 and correct to 20/20... sorry son but you'll never ride the BRT or get to bust people. Save yourself the heartbreak. Luckily, when I got older I called the folks who did the hiring and asked. The way the agencies here meant it is that if you were 20/40 or better you didn't need to wear glasses. If you are BAAFB (like me  ) but you could correct to 20/20, you were fine. If you couldn't you were SOL.
As the person at the County Merit Commission said when I called: Do you wear glasses? Do you have a driver's license? Can you be here before 5pm to pick up an application? Give the AHJ a call and ask. If contacts or glasses will suffice I'd be a testing fool, and would try to get into the pension plan before paying for an operation that could DQ me if (G-d forbid) you become one of the 1:50,000 where there's an "oops". |
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Thanks everyone, the requirements for an oral board review I have coming up August 7th have physical requirements of 20/125 correctable to 20/20. That said, I have a consultation for lasik monday! Hopefully I can get it in before then.
As a side note, what should I expect from an oral board interview? Its for a cadet internship position that will lead to a job once the program is complete. |
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For the state police? Probably pretty formal, stick with your answers and don't seem wishy washy if they ask hypotheticals. Just be able to explain why you answered the way you did if they try to get you to change your answer.
My first interview was actually pretty casual, I was caught off guard when the next department's was extremely formal. Everyone I know that has had LASIK is very happy with it. PRK is another method and is also an option, apparently mostly used on people with thinner corneas. It is the same price usually. Implantable lenses were recommended to me due to PRK not even being an option after seeing two different vision centers and my eye doctor. Price tag was twice that of LASIK though  . Also couldn't talk to anyone I knew that had it to get opinions. Even my eye doctor was a bit leery of it.
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