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Discussion

Bad Eyesight

I want to become a nurse....I am currently enrolled in a University with my major undeclared. I want to know if poor vision will keep me out of the nursing program or out of this career. I work, drive and function normally, but I'll never be 20/20....Never! Even with my contacts. Is this like being a pilot? (must be correctable to 20/20) Help!

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Well, I can't say that I'm 20/20 either since presbyopia set in. I see well enough to draw up meds in a syringe, evaluate rashes and wounds, but I know I'd never be able to see lice without a magnifying glass, much less pick them out of anyone's hair. Nor can I read the teeny tiny print on medication inserts (have to use a drug book).

I'd think if you can drive and read, you could be a nurse in SOME capacity.

Getting an eye exam was NOT part of my nursing school admission process! :)

You should be fine!

Welcome aboard! :kiss: :-)

I've seen plenty of nurses that wear glasses, even with bi focals. I think your eyesight is very important to nursing but if you function everyday life with no problems, I don't think anyone would not allow you to go through a nursing program. I think as long as you could see the measurements on the smallest syringe, go for it!

Contacts here!!! There are no restrictions that I've ever heard of--I work with alot of nurses who wear glasses or contacts.

  • Expert

Glasses since age 12.

RN since age 29.....no problems......I even have the no line bifocals this time. Good luck and welcome to the profession.

Whee !!! I just graduated to trifocals...ain`t getting older grand ? You`ll be just fine !!!

  • Expert

Had 20/20 vision until keratoconus set in around about the time I started needing reading glasses (talk about the double whammy) I am lucky in that at present I can still wear glasses but I am rapidly approaching the point of needing both contacts and glasses (and laser surgery is NOT an option).

My question is why is less than perfect eyesight discriminated against? I am on a campaign to wrtie to as many drug companies as I can find asking them to make the writing on the ampoules clearer and larger (small brown writing on small brown ampoule Geesh!).

  • Expert

Oh and P.S. I am sorry and you can blame it on my eyesight or whatever but on the board the title of this thread comes up next to your call name and I read "Bad eyesight Military Wife" and i immediately thought of Wendy's Undoable list!

I was not aware that any nursing programs require 20/20 vision.

I began wearing glasses at the age of 4 for near sighted vision. I now wear contacts (had been a coke bottle bottom girl til I was 16!!). My vision is only 20/30 or 20/40. Good enough to get a drivers license, good enough to practice as an RN.

Good luck to you!!

Heavenly blue, if perfect eyesight was required we'd never get any new nurses. As long as you can see well enough, somehow, to be safe and are careful, come on down.

And welcome aborad, it's a great ride.

welcome, welcome, welcome......pick up a pill bottle, and if you can read the print with your glasses, you will be fine....hang on tight, nursing school is a heck of a ride....stay seated until the ride comes to a complete stop.......

I am a member of the Coke Bottle Glasses Club, and have been in contacts since I was 8. They let me in nursing school and never had a problem with reading/seeing anything, I doubt you will either. Good luck, Brandi

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