Expert: John L - 1/27/2010

Question
when i was 17 i was assaulted and sustained a injury.The injury was orbital floor fracture which is a paper thin bone at the bottom of the eye socket. i had no facial bone fracture just behind my eye and no head trauma.surgery was done to release tissue that gets trapped which is when with this type of injury. an implant was not put in to see how well i will have ocular mobility, i healed pretty well but i opted to have a 10mm titanium plate put in to ensure it never happens again and that it elevates the eye to have better ocular mobility.follow ups were done and i healed perfect no pain no double vision at all and free to do anything i box, play football, and wrestled i was just told not to have any injury to it in the first six months and im fine. the injury does not interfere with vision at all . i always wanted to enlist in the navy but couldn't because of the time frame of the injury. now five years later i believe i can but will it be an auto dq or will i have to go through with extensive waivers. i did do my research though...


"Current retained hardware that is symptomatic, interferes with proper wearing of protective equipment or military uniform, and/or is subject to easy trauma, is disqualifying (V53.7).

Retained hardware (733.99) (including plates, pins, rods, wires, or screws used for fixation) is not disqualifying if fractures are healed, ligaments are stable, there is no pain, and it is not subject to easy trauma. "

i don't see any that applies to me but i have seen many people turned away for some other things so i am a little doubtful yet hopeful. am i fit to enlist?

Answer
The only way to tell is to go thru the process.  I haven't dealt with something close to your issue.  I would be interested to hearing how it works out.  You may get disqualified at first (which is normal) because the Meops DR does not want to make the final call.  So it will go to the service main doctors for decisions.