<p>Our B&G explained the reason for the difference (i.e. surgery being disqualifying if surgery was performed before appointment, vs sometime in 2nd or 3rd year) - seems that a male’s eye’s are not done developing / growing until they are about 20 yrs old (females earlier). Thus they don’t want to do the surgery (or allow someone else to do it) until the eyes are fully developed (i.e. no need to do it twice either). </p>
<p>There is a rumor that sometime IN THE FUTURE that USNA may change this rule and allow certain surgeries prior to plebe year (without it being an automatic disqualification) but I wouldn’t count on it anytime soon…</p>
<p>I’ve also seen herein that USNA used to have a “limit” on the number of kids they’d accept/admit that needed the surgery to become unrestricted officers. Hence the need for a “waiver” at appointment review time. But I’ve also been told that this “rule” may be in the midst of a change, probably due to the ease, availability, and sucess rate of PRK surgeries these days. So maybe sometime in the NEAR future they won’t limit the number of Plebes coming in with glasses, eliminating the the need for “eye waivers” on future classes… Can any current B&G’s chime in with what they are being told about this subject?</p>