'Sup dudes, just last night I was hit with a curiosity - what kind of eyesight do they require for you to join the military? I'm rockin' some pretty strong lenses here and I wonder if that'd be a stumbling block. Any military folks in here have some knowledge on this?
Sure, I can help with that! Each military branch does have its own standard for visual acuity and these requirements can also depend on the specific role or job within that military branch that you are interested in. However, as a general rule, poor vision won't necessarily disqualify you from military service.
For the US Army and Air Force, for example, the standard uncorrected vision should be 20/200 or better. The corrected vision (with glasses or contact lenses) should be 20/20. For the Navy and Marine Corps, the standard uncorrected vision is between 20/20 to 20/200, depending on the job specialty.
Even if your vision doesn't fit these standards, vision correction procedures like PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) and LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) may be options to make you eligible, provided you meet the military criteria for these procedures.
There are exceptions to all these standards, especially for particular roles within each branch. It's always a good idea to reach out to a recruiter or a military medical officer who can give you the most accurate and up-to-date information for your particular situation.
Hope this answered your question and best of luck with your decision!
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