I just read something on google that usually the military automatically disqualifies people who had a detached retina. I plan on trying to join the marines next summer as an officer and this has me really worried. Any body no if this is true?

Had a guy in my OCS class get sent home for this. He was Navy, going SpecWar

Damn...

According to the AR 40-501 a history of a detached retina is a disqualifying condition.

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(4) Current or history of detachment of the retina (361), history of surgery for same, or peripheral defect (361.3), or degeneration that may cause retinal detachment does not meet the standard.

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That means that your chances of being physically qualified at the MEPS are zero when the doctor notes this in your medical history. However, waivers are possible (not likely but possible).

The first hurdle is getting the OSO to take the trouble to even submit a waiver request. It takes time and effort from him to do this so you have to do everything within your power to be by all other measures the eminently qualified applicant i.e. 300 PFT, strong academic record (B+ GPA or higher), strong letters of recommendation (preferably including one from a decorated Marine who suffered the loss of an eye).

If the OSO won't work with you then you have to decide how bad you want this and whether you are willing to piss of the OSO to get a chance to become a Marine. If you decide that it is worth the cost of irritating the recruiting command people with who you will be working you can write your Congressman and request that he petition the Marine Corps to have a BUMED waiver request given a full review.

You will then have to gather all of the medical documents regarding the detached retina and a statement from the attending ophthalmologist stating that your eye is 100% functional AND that it is as stable and durable as that of any person that has never had a detached retina i.e. you have no increased propensity for a recurrence of the injury.

These medical documents will be submitted to MEPS ina pre-screen and the MEPS doctor will find you disqualified. The OSO will then request a full physical anyway for the purposes of running a waiver. The MEPS will grudgingly acquiesce to the request even though the MEPS doctor did not recommend a waiver. You will then get a full physical which *must* show that you are in every other aspect fully medically qualified for accession.

The OSO will submit the waiver package to Navy BUMED. BUMED will either deny the request (at which point you are done) or direct that the MEPS send you for a consult with an ophthalmologist. If they send you to a consult (which is an additional expenditure of money) chances are good that you will get the waiver approved if the consulting ophthalmologist agrees with your ophthalmologist's opinion.

Thanks, glad to hear there's at least a slim chance, gonna give it a try and hope for the best.

I am not trying to toss a turd in the punchbowl here but I wanted to emphasize to the OP just how slim is the possibility of getting a detached retina waiver approved.

When I did my ROTC duty I had one kid who had been a preemie, had retinopathy of prematurity. The retina had detached and reattached on its own. The kid had had strabismus surgery at the age of 18 months or so and had no eye issues since.

We appealed this to every possible venue to no avail.

I also was unable to get a waiver for a nursing student with a 3.7 GPA, whose dad was a retired CSM. She had 20/20 vision but it required like -12 diopters of correction to get there. The DOD justification is that people with high refract error myopia are at greater risk of having a detached retina at some point and they don't want to have to (a) pay to train someone they might lose or (b) pay medical retirement to an individual at high risk.

I have gotten dyslexics in on 3 yr scholarships who later branched Aviation. I have gotten kids in who had been big time ADD/ADHD and taken Ritalin for a number of years. I have overcome a MEPS "Doctor" diagnosis of tachycardia by proving that a physically fit individual just happened to have a resting heart rate of 102. Knee surgeries, orthopedic surgeries with minor hardware --- those were all doable.

I just never had any luck at all with any waivers if they had anything at all to do with the eyes.

By the same token, I would still fully disclose even if it keeps you from doing what you want to do. The aftermath of people failing to disclose physically disqualifying defects, from my observation, could be pretty nasty.

I understand, but I'd rather say I atleast tried. My dad has some connections with Pete Olson so maybe I could possibly get lucky with that. But i will fully accept whatever happens.

[This message has been edited by CTR14 (edited 7/10/2011 5:43p).]

a DR washed me out. Once in the early 90s, once after 9/11.

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orthopedic surgeries with minor hardware --- those were all doable

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I needed someone to fight a little harder for me

Marine Corps - 6 months of waiting on a waiver from BUMED for ankle surgeries, I was running 280-290 PFT's. $900 for laser tattoo removal of one on my wrist that was covered by a watch - 2 months for that waiver AFTER having to wait at least 6 months (6 treatments) to get it removed. I finally gave up after two years of waiting for a flight slot when they yanked all flight contracts for the foreseeable future.

Army (National Guard) - no waiver needed. I had my basic training date, OCS date, flight physical, flight school slot ok'd etc. in 6/7 weeks.

Depends on the needs of the ________.

I've found it to be that if MEPS disqualifies you it seems to be one thing. If it's a higher authority, you can fight a little more.

Good luck.