| Active military personnel and even those in | | | | procedure. |
| training are at a risk for serious eye injuries from | | | | The U.S. Navy’s Bureau of Naval Medicine did |
| flying fragments, dust particles and other forms | | | | experiment with LASIK surgery on four aviators |
| of impact. To minimize these risks, military | | | | in November of 2006. It is yet to be determined |
| personnel use special eyewear, such as goggles, | | | | whether or not the LASIK procedure will affect |
| to help protect their eyes. | | | | the aviator’s eyes in situations such as wind |
| Military personnel who require the aid of glasses | | | | blasts, high altitude and dry air. Other concerns for |
| to perfect their vision would find it impossible to | | | | aviators include long-term vision stability after |
| wear glasses along with these special goggles. And | | | | enduring: |
| because contact lenses are prohibited, special | | | | • Ejection from aircraft |
| prescription optical inserts have been developed | | | | • High g-force |
| for military personnel needing vision correction. | | | | • Glare |
| Unfortunately, these inserts can cause harm | | | | How is LASIK performed? |
| because some are not shatter-proof and cannot | | | | LASIK refractive eye surgery helps to correct |
| withstand high velocity impacts and can damage | | | | the shape of a person’s cornea. If the cornea |
| the goggle-covered eyes. | | | | is not a perfect sphere, is too flat or steep, light |
| What is the solution for military personnel? Many | | | | will not focus on the retina properly and you will |
| have turned to Laser-Assisted in Situ | | | | not see clearly. |
| Keratomileusis, also known as LASIK eye surgery, | | | | A qualified surgeon will first thoroughly examine |
| to eliminate the need for glasses or contacts. | | | | your eyes to determine whether or not that |
| LASIK improves the vision of people who have: | | | | person is a candidate for LASIK. The exam |
| • Nearsightedness (myopia) | | | | includes: |
| • Farsightedness (hyperopia) | | | | • Corneas |
| • Astigmatism | | | | • Retinas |
| The Special Risks Military Personnel Face | | | | • Lenses |
| In the past, people who had undergone refractive | | | | • Optic nerves |
| eye surgery were not eligible to serve in the | | | | • Pupil size |
| military. Today eye surgeries such as LASIK are | | | | • Tear film |
| allowed in most positions of U.S. Army, Navy, | | | | • Eye dominance |
| Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force. | | | | The eye surgery includes cutting a thin flap on the |
| LASIK is not currently approved for U.S. military | | | | cornea. A microkeratome and suction ring are |
| aviation, although the alternative treatment called | | | | implemented during this process. The cornea is |
| Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) is approved, | | | | then reshaped using a laser to vaporize unwanted |
| as long as it is Wavefront Guided PRK. | | | | corneal tissue. Then the corneal flap is put back |
| • PRK does not create any corneal flap, but | | | | into place. The surgery itself typically takes only |
| removes surface tissue completely to access the | | | | about 30 minutes to complete and can give 20/20 |
| treatment level. That tissue grows back during | | | | vision or better. |
| recovery. Therefore there is no healed flap to be | | | | When a soldier has excellent vision, he or she is |
| disrupted or damaged in any impact. | | | | better equipped to complete a job or mission and |
| • Wavefront technology diagnoses the eyes | | | | protect lives. Just as military personnel place trust |
| far more precisely that the older method of | | | | in their teams, so will the patient place trust in the |
| diagnosis for LASIK. It creates a microscopically | | | | eye surgeon performing LASIK to improve his or |
| precise 3-D map of each eye, which forms the | | | | her vision. A consultation will allow you to ask |
| basis of treatment for each eye. The risk of night | | | | questions, verify credentials and set realistic |
| vision problems after a Wavefront vision | | | | expectations. |
| correction is far less than after a traditional | | | | |