Eye sight and the British defence forces

Tak3n

Hi guys,

Hoping you can shed some light on this. Was talking to someone in the british army and basically he quoted this :

Eyesight Standards The standard personal weapon is the SA80 and this requires vision in the right eye to be correctable to no less than 6/9.
Vision in the left eye must be correctable to no less than 6/36. Spectacle correction must be no greater than -7diopters or +8 in any meridian.
Certain types of surgery or laser treatment to correct visual defects are unacceptable and clarification should be sought prior to application.
The standards required by the Army Air Corps are higher than for other branches: applicants should check current standards with the Army Air Corps.


Now my eye sight just barely matches those requirements. What im confused about is the use of spectacles, are they allowed? and under what conditions?
Or will i have to settle for laser corrective surgeory?

Someone explain please

Poccington

I would assume you are allowed to wear glasses in the British Army? Flying will most likely be able to give you an answer.

testicle

Of course you can, that's what the "correctable to 6/9" is about.

Flying

It depends certain unit have different criteria, it is best to goto the BA website for certain info or call Palace Barracks in Hollywood and ask for the ACIO

http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/How+do+I+Join/Home.htm

Not to be pedant but Britain doesnt have a Defence force by the way.

SiggsEmma

hello all....
you are allowed to wear glasses in the army. have you not seen sodiers with glasses before.

so long as the glasses are used 2 correct the eye sight you have to make you see better.

i a slightly short sighted, i am spose 2 wear glasses but dont because i can see pretty good without them. but the longer away i see the more blurrier it gets.

but if i am on a army range or any range i put them on so i can see better....

hope this Helps.

Emma A

Leadership

A lot depends on the role you are interested in some roles do require good un-corrected eyesight.

If you join get a tough set of reinforced & reflective free glasses. The issue glasses are a joke! The issue respirator lenses are funny to look at but at least you can see in NBC conditions.

Lockstep

Out of interest, is the British army the same as the Irish army in laser eye surgery attitudes?

concussion

Nope, the BA allow some techniques (don't know the specifics) while the Irish DF have a blanket ban.

Irish Tempest

All you want to know and more about eyesight standards for the RN/ARMY/RAF....

rgds

IT;)

http://www.aop.org.uk/services/1099665998.html

OHeathcliff

Hi, sorry for the big thread bump but it seemed like the correct thread.

Reading my prescription for my glasses it says

R Sph -400 Cyl -225 Axis 2 1/2
L Sph -350 Cyl -225 Axis 180 (might be 150 not sure about the writing)

Im not too sure what this means but can anyone tell if it fits in with the above : requires vision in the right eye to be correctable to no less than 6/9.
Vision in the left eye must be correctable to no less than 6/36. Spectacle correction must be no greater than -7diopters or +8 in any meridian.

Thank you for any help.