Eye Test

[kbb07142]

I am applying for a Marine Engineer Officer and have just passed me RT and was given the forums to fill out for my medical and eye test.

When i went to book a eye test today at Boots I was told it would be a 2 week wait.
However because I had an eye test done for glasses 2 months ago at Boots, I was told that I could use that.

However, my prescription for glasses is different for my contact lenses. My glasses are -6.75 and for contacts is -4.75 (checked 1 year ago).
I sent off the forum for the eye test for glasses and I am devastated that I wont be able to pass.
But, if I fail the eye test, would it be possible to re-try it, getting my eyes tested for contact lenses?

 

[Sumo]

I am sure Ninja will be a long and be able to point out the relevant reference, if not speak to your AFCO, also check with RFA entry requirements, theirs are different to RN.

 

[Ninja_Stoker]

I am applying for a Marine Engineer Officer and have just passed me RT and was given the forums to fill out for my medical and eye test.

When i went to book a eye test today at Boots I was told it would be a 2 week wait.
However because I had an eye test done for glasses 2 months ago at Boots, I was told that I could use that.

However, my prescription for glasses is different for my contact lenses. My glasses are -6.75 and for contacts is -4.75 (checked 1 year ago).
I sent off the forum for the eye test for glasses and I am devastated that I wont be able to pass.
But, if I fail the eye test, would it be possible to re-try it, getting my eyes tested for contact lenses?

Your corrected and uncorrected prescription must be within the parameters for visual acuity standard 3 to join the Naval Service.

Bear in mind opticians can get it wrong, so it is very much worth undergoing a follow-up eyetest at your own expense, to see whether it was an error or point of fact.

If you fail outright, despair not, the RFA have different standards and wider parameters for entry as do, I believe, the Army.

Best of luck.

 

[Sumo]

hope he would not be taken on by the Army as a marksman

 

[maukjf]

Your corrected and uncorrected prescription must be within the parameters for visual acuity standard 3 to join the Naval Service.

Bear in mind opticians can get it wrong, so it is very much worth undergoing a follow-up eyetest at your own expense, to see whether it was an error or point of fact.

If you fail outright, despair not, the RFA have different standards and wider parameters for entry as do, I believe, the Army.

Best of luck.

eyetests also disadvantage chinese blokes like me. Everytime I've had a military eyetest be for the navy or army, I've been told to open my eyes.....

 

[kbb07142]

Your corrected and uncorrected prescription must be within the parameters for visual acuity standard 3 to join the Naval Service.

Bear in mind opticians can get it wrong, so it is very much worth undergoing a follow-up eyetest at your own expense, to see whether it was an error or point of fact.

If you fail outright, despair not, the RFA have different standards and wider parameters for entry as do, I believe, the Army.

Best of luck.

I was thinking about the RFA, would my local AFCO be able to help with this?
Also do you know if would I have to sit the RT again?

If all else fails do you know if there are any onshore options for joining, carrying out repairs/upgrades while in port?

I will take another eye test again, just to make sure though.

If it wasnt for my age (and the money) I would have laser eye surgery, but I am 28 right now, and so by the time I had it done, re-applied and passed all the interviews/tests I would be over the age limit

 

[Sumo]

I think Ninja has posted about corrective laser treatments, there are rules on what you can have corrected, if I remember correctly?

 

[Ninja_Stoker]

The recruit test for the equivalent RFA branch is usually similar and therefore transferable and valid. To apply for the RFA, simply log-in to the RN website and submit an application - most fields already completed will populate your new application, there's only a handful of questions to complete. The AFCO may have the odd publishing cation but if you want detailed RFA info,, call the RFA helpline number on the website.

With regard Navy Dockyard vacancies, you need to apply to the individual private companies depending which yard you want to work at be it Portsmouth, Plymouth, Faslane or Rosyth. You could also consider applying to UK sbipbuilders who are currently building Navy ships andsubmarines.

 

[Skawtish]

If it wasnt for my age (and the money) I would have laser eye surgery, but I am 28 right now, and so by the time I had it done, re-applied and passed all the interviews/tests I would be over the age limit

eh?
Upper age limit is 37 for most roles. that's literally 9 years, mate.
laser eye surgery can be done in under a week from consultation to full recovery.
you need to wait six months before RN medical after laser eye surgery, so less than a year at absolute worst. If i remember correctly, the RT and interview are valid for 12 months? So you may not even have to reapply if you get your arse in gear.
As for money, most laser eye surgery clinics offer finance deals, optical express even do 0% interest finance. You'd be paying monthly almost the same as what you probably do for contact lenses.

 

[kbb07142]

Well i went for a eye exam today
I am -5.25 for contact lenses, but -6.75 for glasses, and have 6/60 (Just) unaided.
I pass the test with contacts, but fail with glasses...but i mostly wear contacts, so.....

Do you think this will be ok?
The information given by the RN is confusing and conflicting.

What is annoying is that I will probably be getting laser surgery done anyway.


Also Skawtish, thanks for the info.
But if I cant get in with my eye sight as it is now then i think I wont be able to get in even with laser eye surgery because the RN has even more rules.

 

[Ninja_Stoker]

eh?
Upper age limit is 37 for most roles. that's literally 9 years, mate.
laser eye surgery can be done in under a week from consultation to full recovery.
you need to wait six months before RN medical after laser eye surgery, so less than a year at absolute worst. If i remember correctly, the RT and interview are valid for 12 months? So you may not even have to reapply if you get your arse in gear.
As for money, most laser eye surgery clinics offer finance deals, optical express even do 0% interest finance. You'd be paying monthly almost the same as what you probably do for contact lenses.

Upper age is 30 for Engineering Officers.

Those undergoing laser eye surgery must wait 12 months and have successive eyetests to demonstrate the procedure has stabilised. The initial prescription must be within the entry standard, the type of surgery must be approved, ocular implants are not accepted.

The Recruit Test is valid 3 years. Laser surgery is not recommended or endorsed by the service.

Other than that, fully concur.

 

[Ninja_Stoker]

Well i went for a eye exam today
I am -5.25 for contact lenses, but -6.75 for glasses, and have 6/60 (Just) unaided.
I pass the test with contacts, but fail with glasses...but i mostly wear contacts, so.....

Do you think this will be ok?
The information given by the RN is confusing and conflicting.

What is annoying is that I will probably be getting laser surgery done anyway.


Also Skawtish, thanks for the info.
But if I cant get in with my eye sight as it is now then i think I wont be able to get in even with laser eye surgery because the RN has even more rules.

The minimum standards for VA3 must be met for both corrected and uncorrected vision. The parameters are on the optician report form and your optician is the only person qualified to state whether you meet the corrected AND uncorrected visual acuity standard.

 

[Skawtish]

Upper age is 30 for Engineering Officers.

Those undergoing laser eye surgery must wait 12 months and have successive eyetests to demonstrate the procedure has stabilised. The initial prescription must be within the entry standard, the type of surgery must be approved, ocular implants are not accepted.

The Recruit Test is valid 3 years. Laser surgery is not recommended or endorsed by the service.

Other than that, fully concur.

i'll get my coat

Laser surgery is not recommended or endorsed by the service

another example of the RN being behind the times.
how many years ago did they come up with that?

Anecdotal fact; the americans GIVE laser eye surgery to their personnel.

 

[Ninja_Stoker]

i'll get my coat

another example of the RN being behind the times.
how many years ago did they come up with that?

Anecdotal fact; the americans GIVE laser eye surgery to their personnel.

In many areas we do tend to eventually follow the US with regard 'pseudo medical' reasons we excluded individuals from serving, which later turned out to be utter tripe - females serving on Submarines or in the USMC, for example.

The current take is that laser surgery is still being developed, there's an issue with post op visual stability and not all procedures are successful....

In short, watch this space - if you can see it

 

[kbb07142]

Thanks for your help guys.

The royal navy entry standards say
"Spectacle or contact lens correction must not be greater than -6 dioptres or +6 dioptres in any meridian"

The "OR" makes this part seem a bit ambiguous.
If my glasses are -6.75 but my contacts are -5.25 (and i have 6/60 vision) then is that ok?

In short do they take the worse of the two results or the better?