My kid paid for PRK out of his own pocket by lifeguarding. I told him not to sign anything without a SO contract. It was a couple years after HS before he got into the Navy. He’s now in 3rd Phase of BUDS.

God has a plan for us all, and that's why he made me colorblind.

Most informative video on this subject thanks guys blessed to have came across this! You guys rock navy seals

Thank you so much for this video this is my exact problem right now. My eyes, I know, don’t qualify for BUDs but I had recruiters telling me yes I can get the surgery myself or no you’ll be disqualified the Navy has to do it for you. So thanks for clearing this up for me this was a huge help. Thank you.

Ive heard it takes 2 or three years of being in the navy before you could get eye surgery depending on your job and its needs. Theres a long wait list because people that require good vision for their rate will get surgery first in the navy. Then you will most likely have to wait another 6 months just to get your vision cleared after surgery. Then the attempt to switch rates and turn in your application for bud/s and who knows if you will get approved or if the classes for the year are full or not.. like they said just get it done before if at all possible..

Great video thanks!

Thank you for this video. It helped me out more than you know.

The army rejected me at MEPPS in 97 because of my vision, the army took me to a eye doctor from MEPPS but my sight wouldn't correct to their standards, wish they had lasiks back then

I wanted to be a SEAL so badly. I trained a long time for it.. My color vision deficiency ruined my chances to do any type of infantry related job. I am devastated

That is what I’m doing right now. Waiting 6 months then joining.

I am training and hoping to join the Air Force Special Forces and my only obstacle is going to be my eyesight

Going to BUDS has been a dream of mine since middle school. I am a freshman in college and I want to finish up college before enlisting. I have glasses but my vision is not bad, it seems the way to go is just pay for it myself in junior year and train for another year before enlisting.

Whats the number of pushups, pull-ups and sit-ups that I need to get to in order to pass the (PST)?

Just a quick question, so I’ve heard about people failing 1 of the colorblind tests but passing a different one. Like I know a person that failed the pips test and then failed the lantern test but then passed the last one, and he was able to secure a contract to ranger school. Is that the same for SEALS or is it different?

The past year I have been preparing myself mentally and physically to be able to tackle seal training before I talk to a recruiter. I went to the optometrist today thinking my vison would meet the standards and found out my vision is 20/200-20/400. The moment they told me that my heart sank because I knew uncorrected vision had to be 20/40-20/70. I felt defeated knowing the past year of pushing myself everyday to become a seal could be ruined because of my vison. Stew, would you recommend I talk to a recruiter before I look into having lasik eye surgery or should I just have the surgery, wait the six month healing time and then reach out to a recruiter? I turn 22 next year and I feel like this delays my goal for at least another year. I guess it will give me even more time to prepare myself. I won't give up on my goal of becoming a Seal.

I know this is an old video but yesterday I was processing at meps trying out for spec war in the navy for SEAL but found out I was color blind and I wasn’t qualified but I can distinguish color just fine is there anything I can do once I’m in the regular navy to try and be selected for the program I’m doing what it takes for the pst trying my best and I don’t want to quit even if there is just the smallest amount of hope thank you

I’m wanting to go into the Navy as a Greenside corpsman. The only thing I’m scared of is meps, I hate that something genetic could hold me back potentially. You mentioned something about a waiver you can get for color deficiency?

So can you do special forces if you need Implantable contact lenses (permanent contacts put in the eye where they can’t be bothered by dust). I have 20/20 in my left eye but like 20/200 in my right

so you cant wear contacts in buds you must get surgery for your eye-sight to be corrected?

So I have to at least be able to distinguish between red and green to become a Seal? I have a mild to moderate deutan color deficiency.

most insurance companies do not cover eye surgery because it is considered an "elective/cosmetic surgery and not medically necessary."

Thank you for the videos! I just went into a recruiter to start the process and I mentioned to them that I had the PRK surgery over two years ago and my eyesight is good now. They told me just not to mention it on my physical and if they asked about it at MEPs I should just lie about it. I asked what happens if I get caught in my lie and they told me it would just take longer because now I have to get the paperwork together for the waiver and it wouldn’t be a big deal if found out. This just made me feel uneasy. Should I follow what the recruiter say?

stew, im currently a junior in high school, and I turn 18 in October of this year. I plan on getting eye surgery in December so I can be cleared for my 6 months operation recovery right when I graduate. During my senior year, post op, when should I see and talk to a recruiter?

Stew.. I'm 25. I'm getting surgery on March 1st. 6 months later on Sept 1st I'll be 26. Am I an old man???

for special warfare is PRK or Lasik better? which has less risk of injury

I'm turning 29 in September, I'm correctable to 20/20. Currently at 20/90 both eyes. I have been working with a recruiter and he's trying to get me the SO contract but now from my understanding from watching this video, that will be unlikely as I will need to have it done before the contract is offered. I am already pushing it with my age, and waivers for a hand surgery and dui at 19. Did I miss my chance or will I be able to get an age waiver at 29-30 years old after I get correction before joining? I don't want to lose my chance at going SEALs, I at least want a shot at it.

Okay, so if I had Lasik and waited my six months, do I still require a waiver? I already went through meps and chose my rate and was approved but I’m aware the NSW reviews my paperwork as well. So my question is, should I attain a waiver for NSW reviewing even though Meps already cleared me?

Hello Stew Smith, I wanted to ask if i have a chance to become a seal with a very slight red/green wakness. And i also wanted to know if they take me with this weakness even when i am absoloutley crushing the PST. It would please me if you can answer my question.

So I can get PRK or Lasik done before joining the Navy and I will be fine to get a SEAL contract?

I’ve been told I can’t enlist at all into the military until after 6 months after lasik or prk, is there a way to be able to enlist earlier through medical waiver.

Is lasik disqualifying for seals, swcc? Ive read that lasik is frowned upon for military free fall and scuba schools.

I know you're supposed to tell your recruiter if you got lasik, but couldn't you just not mention it, and no one would know the better? I have no idea if they request your eye records or anything. It doesn't seem like a big deal but it might just be a pain to get all the information from your doctor about the procedure.

Hey I’ve been reading through the comments and scanning through Reddit but I have been wondering if anyone ever found out any further information on waivers for partial colorblindness / which eye surgery is generally approved across all branches. I’ve been saving up money to eye correction( I know I have to get a waiver) but I just want to be 100% sure before anything. thanks In advance for any help

So I’ve heard that getting lasik done disqualifies you from any airborne contract. this is for the army, so if I get lasik done and wait the six months, will I be barred from pursuing the 11x option 40 contract, or is the information I’ve heard incorrect?

I just got lasik and I have been texting my recruiter that I got lasik, but no reply.....should I go to a different branch or what can I tell my recruiter? I went to MEPs and passed everything except the eye test. What do I do? I read online it said I have to wait 6 months before I can join? Any suggestions?

I have a question, I have my seal contract and I’m shipping out in august but my vision meets the standard for the corrected and uncorrected vision but only barely should I wait and get corrective eye surgery now or will I be able to get it before going to buds? Because it’s still pretty blurry and I don’t want my vision to be a reason I fail buds or can’t see while there.