Starting Academy , Contacts or Glasses????

[pac201]

Living the dream is fine, but don't let it become who you are. Because at some point in your life, you won't be that anymore. Then who will you be? I think that's why a lot of LE retirees die early, they put too much into being their job. When they aren't that anymore, then they're nobody. Believe me, I'm an ex cop, but I'm still a Dad, a husband, etc. Once some people aren't cops anymore, they don't think the other stuff is good enough.... ;)

It's fun, but it's still only a job. Keep that in perspective.

I do what I do because I love my job, BTW I'm good at it... But I do have grandkids, a lovely bride of 38 years and 2 great children! I have a host of friends at church, and soome other non LE related things I do. Contrary to what some popo do, you need to have a civilian life along with the job.

Good luck!

[BP348]

While at the academy contact would work except like switch pointed out on the pepper spray day. Can you get by with glasses while doing P.T.?

as far as work goes I would say contacts are better. I have known a few who wear glasses and when it happens it happens fast and you don't have time to remove your glasses and when you loose them it all depends on how well you see without your glasses.

If you had to how well do you think you could shoot without your glasses? Now think about being in a fight and loosing your glasses and the guy pulls a knife. Could you defend yourself? your partner? Is it harder or easier to loose a contact?

Just my $.02 I don't wear glasses so I don't know I'm just telling what I've seen.

[mpdcjock]

I wore contacts while I was in the academy. I had no issues.

[Switchback]

While at the academy contact would work except like switch pointed out on the pepper spray day. Can you get by with glasses while doing P.T.?

as far as work goes I would say contacts are better. I have known a few who wear glasses and when it happens it happens fast and you don't have time to remove your glasses and when you loose them it all depends on how well you see without your glasses.

If you had to how well do you think you could shoot without your glasses? Now think about being in a fight and loosing your glasses and the guy pulls a knife. Could you defend yourself? your partner? Is it harder or easier to loose a contact?

Just my $.02 I don't wear glasses so I don't know I'm just telling what I've seen.

And don't think that you won't lose a contact over the years. That's why I kept spare lenses in my glove box, my ruck sack, my gym bag... damn near everywhere. Like I said, they were cheap enough to have spares around.

Also, bear in mind, if you get sprayed while wearing contacts, those lenses are trash anyways... and disposables are A LOT cheaper in this instance. I don't know, maybe you could salvage lenses after getting sprayed, but (speaking from experience) I couldn't get my lenses off fast enough... and that meant they were thrown on the ground as soon as things were under control. LOL

...just another reason I love the laser! I can't imagine going back to contacts now!

[Agent_Chaos714]

And don't think that you won't lose a contact over the years. That's why I kept spare lenses in my glove box, my ruck sack, my gym bag... damn near everywhere. Like I said, they were cheap enough to have spares around.

Also, bear in mind, if you get sprayed while wearing contacts, those lenses are trash anyways... and disposables are A LOT cheaper in this instance. I don't know, maybe you could salvage lenses after getting sprayed, but (speaking from experience) I couldn't get my lenses off fast enough... and that meant they were thrown on the ground as soon as things were under control. LOL

...just another reason I love the laser! I can't imagine going back to contacts now!

Ill admit, Laser eye sounds really good right about now, I will probably have to wait till after academy though as Im sure it would cause me to be out of commission for a few days, I dont know what do you think the recovery time is....rough estimate of course!

[Switchback]

Well, with lasik, you can see just fine immeiately. You go home nad rest and I think you are good to go the next day. The thing is, I don't know how long before you would be able to do contact things (like defensive tactics), as the flap has to heal.

I had PRK. With it, you are down for the count for 3 days. It hurts pretty bad, but there is no flap cut. You vision is pretty crappy (20/30) for a week, but progressively gets better. I had mine done, saw the doc 3 days and 10 days post-op, and was on a jet to Afghanistan 14 days post-op.

[BP348]

I don't know about different agencies but USBP makes you wait like 90 days after surgery before you can be medically cleared.

[Creeker]

I worked for 23 years wearing Toric lenses, which were for severe astigmatism, and throughout the years always cost about $100 per lense, so they were no throwdowns. Occasionally there was some issue pop up, and there wasn't always the $ to buy new ones or spares... and I occasionally had to wear a torn one for a few days, which was absolutely painful.

I had glasses, but my eyes were so bad, all I could see was a dark spot on the eye chart. Come OC day, I had to take a S/L day following, because I couldn't work in the glasses.

In addition to Meth Lab chemicals affecting them, Crime Scene chems will affect them as well.

The downside of Lasik is that you have to go without contacts for 10-15 days prior, because contacts change the shape of your eyes.

After you do have the surgery, like Switch said you sleep the rest of the day afterwards, then theres an immediate improvement and in my case things gradually got even better. Earlier this month, 1 year out, my vision comes in at 20/25.

I had what was called "Monovision", which meant that one eye is focused better for reading while the other is for distance, and your brain adjusts to it.

I would heartily recommend it being done prior to working, due to the near impossibility of having the 15-20 days off in many instances, for people who are as bad off as I was. For those who can get by wearing frames for that long, its not as big an issue.

[Agent_Chaos714]

Does any one here have an Idea if normal LE insurance covers Lasik surgery?

[Creeker]

Does any one here have an Idea if normal LE insurance covers Lasik surgery?

I haven't seen any that did.

I am now under my wife's Blue Cross/Blue Shield - Federal Plan, which is pretty good, and it is not covered. We paid for it thru a medical spending plan.

That's not to say there aren't any, I've just never heard of any.

If you think about it from an Insurers point of view, to them it would be Cosmetic, not a need. They only establish their benefits for the majority of their clients (companies) needs, not specifically for a Cops needs or convenience.