Marine career and (corrected) eyesight.

IrishExpat

First post on boards.ie, but a long time reader.

I have recently started to research a new career path, get out of the office and find something more hands-on and worthwhile. I have been reading a lot on the potential of a maritime career, and my next step is to come back home (I emigrated in 2009) and possibly interview as a mature student with NMCI, Nautical Science.

But my first stumbling block; my eye sight. I currently wear glasses and contacts, but I am ready to correct my vision with LASEK, as I have taken a pre-op test and am a suitable candidate.

Despite various emails and calls to the Dept. of Transport, I can not get a definitive answer: Will corrective eye surgery rule me out in any future medical or eye exams? This may be a stupid question, but did the Irish DF not disqualify candidates for this for many years (or still?).

I would like to get some opinions on this. Not that I might apply for the Navy (well, who knows?)

Thanks all.

the_syco

IrishExpat wrote: »

I currently wear glasses and contacts, but I am ready to correct my vision with LASEK, as I have taken a pre-op test and am a suitable candidate.

Not sure. One question; what armies use LASEK? I ask as some armies use particular laser, because they don't have side effects such as night blindness, etc. When I looked into it four years ago, the Irish army had not done such a study, but I know the british and French armies have.

IrishExpat

the_syco wrote: »

Not sure. One question; what armies use LASEK? I ask as some armies use particular laser, because they don't have side effects such as night blindness, etc. When I looked into it four years ago, the Irish army had not done such a study, but I know the british and French armies have.

I have nothing to go on aside from posters from other marine/maritime forums, mostly American based. But I will look around and get back to you.

Tabnabs

You could also try speaking to the people in the Mercantile Marine Office http://www.transport.ie/marine/MaritimeSafetyDirectorate/MMO/index.asp?lang=ENG&loc=1993 as this is where the exams are conducted.

But I sailed with plenty of people with glasses. Colour blindness will be an automatic disqualification though.

IrishExpat

Thanks for the link, I´ll get on it.

A career at sea or not, it´s a correction I will definitely have this year.
The more I read up on it - there are many posters claiming to have flouted the rule in the PDF both before and after recruitment (don´t ask, don´t tell).

That aside I´d be happier being honest about it.

Jambo

Ring one of the panel of medial examiners , aside from when you are sitting your standard ENG1 / ENG11 medical you will also have to complete a seperate eysight test (Form 5) - which if you pass you will be issued with a fitness to work cert

murphym7

Tabnabs wrote: »

You could also try speaking to the people in the Mercantile Marine Office http://www.transport.ie/marine/MaritimeSafetyDirectorate/MMO/index.asp?lang=ENG&loc=1993 as this is where the exams are conducted.

But I sailed with plenty of people with glasses. Colour blindness will be an automatic disqualification though.

I went for my eyetest a good few years ago now, didnt do great on the small letters and handnt a notion during the lantern test I was shouting yellows, greens, oranges - your man sent me off to Specsavers and to come back in an hour, did the test again with my new glasses, failed again and was told " ah, sure glasses take a while to bed in". Glasses are not an issue.

who the fug

murphym7 wrote: »

I went for my eyetest a good few years ago now, didnt do great on the small letters and handnt a notion during the lantern test I was shouting yellows, greens, oranges - your man sent me off to Specsavers and to come back in an hour, did the test again with my new glasses, failed again and was told " ah, sure glasses take a while to bed in". Glasses are not an issue.

Mine was something similar, despite the ridge on the nose I professed to not wearing glasses, squinted the my way through.

The Guy giving me the test said I was borderline, but he would pass me so long as I wasn't colour blind.

goldie fish

I think glasses are not allowed for a new entrant only.

sailordog13

The criteria for the ENG 11 (Irish Seafarers medical) must be met as a minimum to gain your tickets.
Correction, be it spectacles or contacts are fine, so long as the end result allows you to read the required line.

http://www.dttas.ie/marine

Search for seafarer medical.
It will give you the facts.

Colour blindness is a matter of whether you are an engineer, or navigator.