OMG I failed the depth perception test at MEPS! No more dentistry?

[dawglala]

Hi guys,

I have a condition so that my left eye can not be corrected to 20/20. This causes me to have hard time in judging depth perception. I failed the depth perception test today at meps (remember the 3 row 5 circles test on the machine?). I think this is a pretty important ability as a dentist, right? If I have trouble with depth perception, does it mean I can not be a dentist? I'm really paranoid now because becoming a dentist is my dream since college, and now I might not be able to make it because of some incurable defect. Does anyone has experience with this or know a dentist who doesn't have perfect eyesight but still do well?

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[Roto Picante]

I failed the depth perception too. 3rd year student now on 4 year HPSP scholarship. Don't worry, it doesn't mean anything. Thousands of dentists, many in the military, wear corrective eyewear.

 

[vellnueve]

If its not correctable that could certainly pose an issue.

 

[385835]

Those are two separate tests. Is your eye not correctable to 20/20 or did you fail the depth perception test? Or did you fail both?

 

[dawglala]

I failed the depth perception too. 3rd year student now on 4 year HPSP scholarship. Don't worry, it doesn't mean anything. Thousands of dentists, many in the military, wear corrective eyewear.

Thanks for the encouragement. However, my condition is not correctable even with glasses or contacts. Have you known anyone with uncorrectable eyesight and still become a dentist?

 

[dawglala]

If its not correctable that could certainly pose an issue.

That's what I am afraid of. Are you talking about being it an issue for the military or becoming a dentist in general? If it is the latter, I'm really unsure of whether or not I should still go to dental school. Were you able to pass the depth perception test easily while at MEPS?

 

[dawglala]

Those are two separate tests. Is your eye not correctable to 20/20 or did you fail the depth perception test? Or did you fail both?

My right eye is correctable to 20/20. I have a condition called strabismus amblyopia on my left eye, which is not correctable even with glasses. I visited an optometrist and he said it is because of my uncorrectable left eye that I have problems with depth perception. My eyesight was 20/20 on the right eye and 20/70 on the left eye at MEPS. I failed the depth perception test.

How was your experience with the depth perception test? Was it easy to tell the circles? I read some more on other forums and apparently many people fail the test?

 

[vellnueve]

That's what I am afraid of. Are you talking about being it an issue for the military or becoming a dentist in general? If it is the latter, I'm really unsure of whether or not I should still go to dental school. Were you able to pass the depth perception test easily while at MEPS?

If it's not correctable that's going to hurt your chances at a medical waiver. I did pass the vision test (I failed a different portion but was waivered).

As for becoming a dentist, if you're able to function normally in every day life, it's something you'll probably adapt to. Do you normally do any sort of intricate work?

 

[dawglala]

If it's not correctable that's going to hurt your chances at a medical waiver. I did pass the vision test (I failed a different portion but was waivered).

As for becoming a dentist, if you're able to function normally in every day life, it's something you'll probably adapt to. Do you normally do any sort of intricate work?

Thanks for the response. I don't normally do any kind of intricate work. My recruiter hasn't gone back to me yet after the MEPS, so I don't know if a waiver is neccessary. Do I have to have correctable to 20/20 vision on both eyes?

 

[vellnueve]

Generally speaking I believe you do - but it can be waivered like any requirement. That one probably hurts your chances more than, say, having some lower body joint problem.

 

[AirborneDentist]

I didn't pass it either...they told me it wasn't a big deal, I just can't be a pilot in the Air Force...no worries