VERY VERY UPSET, balloon popped!

[bradjc72]

I know that nothing in life is ever guaranteed and that life is a bunch of disappointments, and that noone should count their chickens before they hatch.

BUT, I needed to get this off of my chest.

I just finished going through the application process for ACT 235, Passed the psychological, physical, PSP and FBI background checks, everything was good, then I called lethal weapons in Harrisburg because their website was just recently down to get an update, and they informed me that they were not accepting my application for ACT training.

To my surprise I asked why, and the lady informed me that it is because of the first step that i went through in the physical, everything was fine, BUT my vision wasnt what they wanted. Regulation states that good eye/bad eye they want 20/70 - 20/200 uncorrected, and I clock in at 20/100 in both eyes, so basically I am not good enough in one eye, and better in the other.

I gotta tell you that this was very upsetting because they didnt say anything before hand, just let me go through the process and spend more money on the psych test, and let me blow that money when they could have said something right off the bat.

Why such strict standards anymore with vision, because you all have to agree that half of todays police and security would be cancelled out immediately because of standards like that.

EVERYTHING was great except for 1/4 of my eye exam and that calls it off completely. Her idea was that i should get Lasik surgery which would take care of it, so what the heck I decided to call my eye doctor, and she spouts out $3,900 to get it done, look I am trying to do this to make money, not blow $4,000 for a job that will pay tops $15.00 an hour.

Just upset and wanted to vent, but I will take any suggestions from LEO's or whatever for help.

Thanks for listening.

[M&P Chris]

I was afraid I would fail my vision test as well. The Dr. that did my physical didn't seem to spend much time on the vision but focused on other things.

[LongOneShortOne]

Book a vacation to Singapore. Eor in some work alongside their LEO departments, and take a tax-deduction as well. Lasix, runs about US$200.

[bradjc72]

$200.00???? Where did you find that LongOne? I cannot find anything below about $1,200 and eye in the Allentown area. For $200.00 an eye, I would consider it.

[soberbyker]

$200.00???? Where did you find that LongOne? I cannot find anything below about $1,200 and eye in the Allentown area. For $200.00 an eye, I would consider it.

Book a vacation to Singapore. Eor in some work alongside their LEO departments, and take a tax-deduction as well. Lasix, runs about US$200.

..........

[bradjc72]

My bad, I got you now, wasnt really reading the post very well.

[Azzy]

Book a vacation to Singapore. Eor in some work alongside their LEO departments, and take a tax-deduction as well. Lasix, runs about US$200.

Lasic does not fix all eye problems, and can make other things worse.

The $4K probably is for proper corrective surgery. I bit the bullet and did it, factoring ti would be easier and cheaper than my regiment of contacts and eyeglasses for a decent amount of time. Look up Associates in Ophthalmology in Pittsburgh, the staff and doctors there did mine and my wife's, and have worked with a few of our friends as well.

[tacticalreload]

I gotta tell you that this was very upsetting because they didnt say anything before hand, just let me go through the process and spend more money on the psych test, and let me blow that money when they could have said something right off the bat.

Why such strict standards anymore with vision, because you all have to agree that half of todays police and security would be cancelled out immediately because of standards like that.

I don't mean to seem like a dick, but it very clearly states in no uncertain terms right on the application / physical exam form:

The applicant must be able to read: at least 20/70, uncorrected, in the stronger eye, correctable to 20/20; and at least 20/200, uncorrected, in the weaker eye, correctable to at least 20/40; and must be free of any significant visual abnormality. CORRECTED VISION IS REQUIRED IF THE UNCORRECTED VISION DOES NOT ALREADY MEET 20/20, 20/40.

Didn't you read the form before dropping a bunch of cash on the process?

Also, as for your other comment about the "strict standards anymore with vision"... the requirement is exactly the same for police. Unless they lied and somehow got a doc to sign off fraudulently, then they have to meet the same standards.

While I understand your frustration, it really should be directed inward rather than at the system. I, for one, am perfectly fine with requiring state-certified gun-carrying individuals to have reasonably acceptable vision.

[Glock9mm]

I don't mean to seem like a dick, but it very clearly states in no uncertain terms right on the application / physical exam form:

The applicant must be able to read: at least 20/70, uncorrected, in the stronger eye, correctable to 20/20; and at least 20/200, uncorrected, in the weaker eye, correctable to at least 20/40; and must be free of any significant visual abnormality. CORRECTED VISION IS REQUIRED IF THE UNCORRECTED VISION DOES NOT ALREADY MEET 20/20, 20/40.

Didn't you read the form before dropping a bunch of cash on the process?

Also, as for your other comment about the "strict standards anymore with vision"... the requirement is exactly the same for police. Unless they lied and somehow got a doc to sign off fraudulently, then they have to meet the same standards.

While I understand your frustration, it really should be directed inward rather than at the system. I, for one, am perfectly fine with requiring state-certified gun-carrying individuals to have reasonably acceptable vision.

I was thinking the same thing! Some jobs are not for everyone.

[JoshIronshaft]

I just had Lasik a week ago (last Friday). Police/military/athletes usually are required to get the PRK procedure which is a bladeless type of Lasik. Instead of cutting the cornea and lifting it up to shoot a laser into your eye they shape the outside of the cornea with the laser, like sanding the outside of your eye to be a corrected lense. I opted for it since I'm a high speed low drag kind of guy. You can't get bladeless if your cornea is too thin.

Cost was $3000, and it varies based on how much correction you need done and where you go. They had a financing deal I went for: no money down, no interest for 24 months. That is $125 a month for 2 years, no penalty for paying off early but really no reason to.

Saturday and Sunday my vision was blurry and I was sensitive to light. Monday I was super sensitive to light and blurry and the later half of the day I was in extreme pain. I opted not to take the Vicodin they prescribed me and toughed it out. Lot of crying involved. It felt like someone put lots of sand in my eye and I wasn't allowed to touch it.

Luckily I woke up Tuesday morning with no pain and damn near perfect vision. Yesterday they removed the contacts they put in after the surgery to act as bandages and my vision got a little blurry again. In a few days I'll have 20-20 vision again.

It was a very fast and weird procedure and I don't want to go through it again, but it was worth it. Luckily I was permitted to miss half a week of work for it.