Can't fight if we can't see.- myopia in SAF.
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Singapore holds the unfortunate title for the highest % of people suffering from myopia (four-eyes) IN THE WORLD.
More than Taiwan, Hong Kong or any other ethnic-Chinese places.
I, myself, needs glasses and I can't say enough how terrible this is for a rifleman.
With all the explosions, dashing about and falling around involved in battle, it is easy for your glasses to be damaged. And in the rain, which is often, my helmet brim helps keep the rain from completely fogging my glasses but not enough. And not to mention the lens of your glasses simply becoming filthy after a day in the field.
If my glasses get damaged during battle, I become a liability to my unit. I might mistakenly shoot our own guys and I won't be able to see clearly where I'm going. In other words, I cease being an effective fighter.
Now, imagine that more and more people need glasses in the future and this will be a very serious problem for SAF.
But inspite of all the 3G modernisation, SAF has not invested into researching "combat" glasses for SAF men.
If STK researches into this and come up with a solution, I think it will be a real winner and SAF will definitely buy into. Not to mention a great potential for atheletes and other active lifestyle people. -
perhaps, SAF should send all combat-capable men for LASIK
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I support this too! I can hardly see anything during exercises on rainy days and together with a driver who is also myopic driving close hatch, this can hardly be considered a safe combination.Originally posted by the Bear:perhaps, SAF should send all combat-capable men for LASIK
But seriously SAF already support regular servicemen of certain vocations such as tank commanders to go for LASIK, either subsidising or pay in full. Sign on anyone?
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Eh? I tot 4 eyes cannot become tankee?Originally posted by tankee1981:I support this too! I can hardly see anything during exercises on rainy days and together with a driver who is also myopic driving close hatch, this can hardly be considered a safe combination.
But seriously SAF already support regular servicemen of certain vocations such as tank commanders to go for LASIK, either subsidising or pay in full. Sign on anyone? -
Is is theoretically possible to develop a anti-material weapon that only affect glass?
For example, this weapon works through sound waves.
Let's say you can concentrate a powerful blast of sound waves towards a certain location. And within this area, everything made of glass would crack or shatter - including eye glasses, binoculars, rifle scopes etc
My entire company's officers wore glasses, as did many of my platoon NCOs.
Using this weapon in conjunction with conventional arty bombardment will render SAF quite helpless.
Those wearing glasses cannot see. And all the scopes on the SAR-21 cannot use.
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But LASIK has a common side effect.. reduction of night vision are common .. because of double vision and light glaring symptons.Originally posted by the Bear:perhaps, SAF should send all combat-capable men for LASIK
Which is more dangerous for soldiers... wh can't see furher at night. -
unfortunately, this is a very real problem. Imagine you are charging the enemy, and oops, your specs fog up or worse, slipped, you groped for your specs and bang, you are sitting ducks.
Now imagine the whole platoon all sitting ducks...
I too had this problem during NS, when i am sweating, the specs kept slipping, go range, everytime i fire the M16, the specs fogged, the anti-fog doesn't seem to work....
morever, lasik is not suitable for everyone...
perhaps severe myopic consider pes e / f, like that won't jeopardise fellow commrades...
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are amoebae cock-eyed ? -
Actually, the SAF has looked into this problem. Being a specky myself, DSTA once contacted me abt being part of their research in preventing/curbing myopia. Basically be guinea pig lar...
Interim solution : Though expensive, issue soldiers in combat units with high myopia with combat goggles w/ powered lenses. There are good anti-fog cloth and sprays in the market, im sure fogged goggles wont be a big problem. -
easy lah! those wif myopia downgrade to pes C9L9!
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The nearest thing to the weapon you mentioned would be an ultrasonic device which, given a high enough frequency & power, would not only shatter glasses, but also turn our insides into jello... remember the sonic tank used by the Atreides in Dune?Originally posted by Daniel-Lim:Is is theoretically possible to develop a anti-material weapon that only affect glass?
For example, this weapon works through sound waves.
Let's say you can concentrate a powerful blast of sound waves towards a certain location. And within this area, everything made of glass would crack or shatter - including eye glasses, binoculars, rifle scopes etc
My entire company's officers wore glasses, as did many of my platoon NCOs.
Using this weapon in conjunction with conventional arty bombardment will render SAF quite helpless.
Those wearing glasses cannot see. And all the scopes on the SAR-21 cannot use. -
Yes you are right. In the past tankees must not be myopic but as the years gone by more and more people now wear specs so they have no choice but to abandon this restriction.Originally posted by moca:Eh? I tot 4 eyes cannot become tankee? -
the money would be better spent researching the cause and prevention of myopia.
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Issue each serviceman with a "backup" "plastic" specs.Originally posted by Daniel-Lim:Is is theoretically possible to develop a anti-material weapon that only affect glass?
For example, this weapon works through sound waves.
Let's say you can concentrate a powerful blast of sound waves towards a certain location. And within this area, everything made of glass would crack or shatter - including eye glasses, binoculars, rifle scopes etc
My entire company's officers wore glasses, as did many of my platoon NCOs.
Using this weapon in conjunction with conventional arty bombardment will render SAF quite helpless.
Those wearing glasses cannot see. And all the scopes on the SAR-21 cannot use. -
Even pilots (or at least the WSOs) can wear glasses.
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4 eyes can become pilots now...requirements lowered. as long as correctable to 6/6Originally posted by moca:Eh? I tot 4 eyes cannot become tankee? -
4 eyes can become pilots now...requirements lowered. as long as correctable to 6/6Originally posted by moca:Eh? I tot 4 eyes cannot become tankee? -
nowadays most glasses especially those pple wear for exercise have plastic lenses not glassOriginally posted by Daniel-Lim:Is is theoretically possible to develop a anti-material weapon that only affect glass?
For example, this weapon works through sound waves.
Let's say you can concentrate a powerful blast of sound waves towards a certain location. And within this area, everything made of glass would crack or shatter - including eye glasses, binoculars, rifle scopes etc
My entire company's officers wore glasses, as did many of my platoon NCOs.
Using this weapon in conjunction with conventional arty bombardment will render SAF quite helpless.
Those wearing glasses cannot see. And all the scopes on the SAR-21 cannot use.
compulsory lasik would be ather bad. what if you were the person and was forced to go thru in spite of not wanting the side effects or nto wanting to take the risks involved in the operation?? not to mention the qualifications of any "professional" the saf will hire and the cost -
Talking about high myopia, I've 900 myopia + 350 astigmatism on each eye. Worse, also got night blindness. Meaning I'm as good as a blindman at night/day under low light condition. Guess what, I'm C1L1. Rifleman.
I wear contact lens though, this does help solved the glasses dropping issue. -
in future, all combat fighting only involves pressing buttons nia. no need charge up hill physically liao.
wear or dun wear specs doesn't matter. -
Demand free lasik for all combat fit personnel. -
If SAF force you to go for lasik, then as with all operations there is a risk, and someone op have complications how? Parents will be up in arms, then Defense Minister must answer in parliment.. No I don't think it will happen.
They SAF used to offer some the ugliest black frame specs around for anyone who needed them. No idea if they still do. But no one wanted them as they made you look like a serious goondu.
As for the specs dropping and slipping off noses, that's why SAF actually suggest wearing those spec straps.. altho its not a popular practice.
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The best pair of specs I got cost me arounf SGD1,000.
The small rectangular frame is wire thin but is pure titanium, matte metal colour. So it is very flexible and very strong. The brand is called Air.
Although I've got rather severe myopia AND astigmatism, the special imported lens is very thin.
This pair of specs is so light, flexible and comfortable I can sleep wearing it.
I highly recommend it. Yes, it is expensive. But after more than 7 years later, I am still wearing it, and I will continue to wear it for years to come as long as I can find spare parts for the nose pad replacements. -
There is a misconception why certain combat roles does not allow for wearing of spectacles. It is not just for good eyesight. Specs can correct your eyesight to near perfect - or more than good enough for most combat things.
With specs, I get marksman bonus for my CTSS every time. So modern specs can correct eyesight to near perfect, but the original demand for perfect eyesight for pilot, armour. commando and naval roles had more reasons beyond just mere good eyesight.
It was originally deemed that these jobs/environments are unsuitable for the wearing of spectacles.
Even during WW2, the cockpits of aircrafts weren't airtight and pilots often needed to wear goggles. So you can't wear goggles AND specs at the same time. Or even in modern aircraft, upon ejection, your glasses will definitely fly off, or injure your eyes...etc.
For Naval personnel, the minute the wave splash over you on deck, glasses will be washed away. Or even if it doesn't, if your specs are wet all the time, you can't see shxt.
For tankee, because you are bumpiing against the interior of the tank all the time, crack your specs not just cannot see, but fragments may bling you.
For commando, no need to say, all the things you are supposed to do like parachuting, swimming underwater, etc etc... How to wear glasses? Or once glasses damaged, mission fail.
And I've tried wearing contacts in the field. DON'T.
It popped out, once. And I couldn't put it back into my eye. And my hands were filthy. How are you gonna put on your lens and take them out and wash at night when out in the field? No way. -
Yeah, contact lense in the field is a definite no no. Especially if its an extended exercise. You might risk eye infection if u handle ur lenses with dirty hands.
I'm aware of certain lenses that can be put on for 30 days... if those do not pop out, maybe that one can be considered. -
where got.
