Navy SEAL candidates can use vision correction, but the regulations governing vision standards are exceptionally strict. While corrective lenses may be used to achieve the necessary clarity, the underlying natural vision must meet a high minimum standard to qualify. The process emphasizes achieving permanent, unassisted visual acuity, meaning eligibility often hinges on specialized medical parameters and specific surgical procedures.
Vision Requirements for SEAL Candidates
A candidate’s natural, or uncorrected, vision must meet a specific threshold to be eligible for Naval Special Warfare (NSW) training. Official medical standards dictate that an applicant’s uncorrected distant vision cannot be worse than 20/200 in either eye. This means that without corrective lenses, the candidate must be able to see at 20 feet what a person with perfect vision sees at 200 feet.
Regardless of the uncorrected measurement, the candidate’s vision must be correctable to 20/20 acuity in both eyes using standard lenses. This corrected vision standard is more stringent than the general Navy requirement, which often allows for vision correctable only to 20/40. Achieving 20/20 corrected vision is the benchmark for special operations personnel due to the demanding nature of their duties.
The vision standards, along with all other medical eligibility criteria for military service, are governed by the Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 6130.03, which outlines the Medical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction in the Military Services. An applicant’s vision is measured against these detailed requirements before a contract to attend Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training is issued. Color blindness is an automatic disqualifier for SEAL service, as accurate color perception is mandatory for tasks such as identifying signaling devices and interpreting operational maps.
The Role of Corrective Eye Surgery
Corrective eye surgery offers a path for candidates whose uncorrected vision requires correction to reach 20/20 acuity. The U.S. military authorizes two specific procedures: Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) and Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK). These surgeries permanently reshape the cornea to correct refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
While both procedures are accepted, PRK is often preferred in the special operations community because it avoids creating a corneal flap, which is necessary for LASIK. During high-impact training or combat, there is a theoretical risk that the corneal flap created by LASIK could become dislodged, causing severe vision issues. PRK removes a microscopic layer of the cornea without creating a flap, eliminating this specific risk.
A mandatory waiting period is enforced following surgery to ensure the stability of the results before a candidate can begin training. This period is typically three months post-LASIK and up to six months post-PRK, during which the patient is placed on a non-deployable medical profile. Furthermore, the candidate’s prescription must be stable for at least one year before the procedure, and the surgery must not compromise the corneal thickness below a specified minimum.
Practical Use of Vision Correction in Training and Operations
Once selected for training, the practical use of traditional vision correction methods becomes highly restricted. Standard prescription glasses are impractical for the intense physical demands of BUD/S training and subsequent deployments. They are prone to fogging, breaking, or being lost during water-based evolutions, physical training, and close-quarters combat drills.
Contact lenses, while offering a temporary solution, are not permitted during the most arduous phases of training or in the field due to the high risk of infection. The unsanitary conditions encountered during dives, swims, and prolonged exposure to dust and dirt make maintaining lens hygiene impossible. Losing a contact lens during a mission or high-stress training event can immediately render a candidate ineffective.
In operational environments, SEAL operators who require vision correction rely on specialized, ballistic-rated protective eyewear that features prescription inserts. These military-grade glasses and goggles are designed to meet stringent ballistic impact standards, such as MIL-PRF-31013. This equipment provides protection against shrapnel and high-velocity debris and is distinct from the standard-issue glasses provided to other personnel.
Why Strict Vision Standards Matter
The rigorous vision requirements exist because the ability to see clearly and quickly is linked to mission success and team safety. SEAL missions frequently involve complex, time-sensitive tasks under variable and extreme conditions, placing a premium on uncompromised visual acuity. Operators must instantly identify targets, distinguish between friend and foe, and read subtle environmental cues in low-light, adverse weather, or high-glare maritime settings.
Reliance on external correction, such as glasses or contacts, introduces an unacceptable point of failure into the operational environment. A broken frame or a lost contact lens can instantly compromise an operator’s ability to navigate, communicate through hand signals, or engage a threat. In a small, specialized team, the momentary visual impairment of one member can endanger the lives of the entire element.
Therefore, the goal of the strict standards and the push toward permanent corrective surgery is to ensure every operator has the maximum unassisted visual capability to maintain peak performance and readiness.