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LASIK and the U.S. MilitaryCurrent military personnel should discuss their desire to have the surgery with their commanding officer. As the branches now have several laser centers available, it is our understanding that they prefer that personnel have the surgery in those centers. We also understand that some exceptions are allowed for personnel to have the surgery at private centers. However, as the military program is expanding, we do not necessarily have the most current information available. Therefore, we strongly advise all personnel to work within their command structure to determine the best course of action. Each service has different rules. The main theme is that RK is not accepted. LASIK has restrictions for specific schools and job titles. PRK is accepted by most (+/- a waiver) except pilots. Army (top) The Army reviewed what was known about the safety of laser refractive surgery in the civilian population to include safety in active sports figures such as boxers, NFL football players and others and determined there was good reason to expect safe results in the Army's most valuable asset….the soldier.
Army Regulation 40-501 imposes some stipulations for soldiers and cadets who have the procedure. It does not permit someone who has had refractive surgery to come on active duty. If cadets get refractive surgery while at the Military Academy, they may not be commissioned upon graduation. Moreover, soldiers who have had refractive surgery cannot go into training programs for aviation, airborne, Ranger, Special Forces, HALO (high altitude, low opening), marine diving or combat diving. Aviators: Only pilots who are enrolled in the USAARL approved protocol to follow PRK and LASIK throughout flight school would be allowed to have surgery. All other pilots are not eligible to have surgery. LASIK
is disqualifying/non-waiverable for SOC schools (HALO, SCUBA, SFQC, SERE). Click here for more information Navy and USMC (top) RK has been assessed by Navy ophthalmologists, who determined that RK does not produce stable visual correction in operational environments. RK surgery is disqualifying. PRK has been extensively studied by the Navy and is currently the procedure of choice. Note: waivers are not considered for applicants to special duty communities (Aviation, Undersea, Diving, Special Warfare/SEAL) unless specifically approved by those communities' managers. General Accessions (people entering active duty or enlisted who are applying for a commission): RK, PRK and LASIK are disqualifying, waivers for PRK and LASIK will be considered. Submarine duty: Must receive authorization from your commanding officer before PRK or LASIK. Wait 3 months after surgery before qualifying exam. No RK. Diving Special Warfare: Must receive authorization from your commanding officer before PRK. Wait 3 months after surgery before qualifying exam. No RK or LASIK. Surface Warfare: Must receive authorization from your commanding officer before PRK or LASIK. Wait 3 months after surgery before qualifying exam. No RK. Aviation Warfare: RK, PRK and LASIK disqualifying. Waiver considered for PRK only. Must receive authorization from your commanding officer before PRK. You may wish to review the Navy & USMC Accession and Retention for Active Duty policy table Coast Guard (top) A Coast Guard member may choose to have PRK, RK, LASIK done, and pay for it out of pocket without fear of "reprisal", but with the associated consequences due to standing policies. PRK can be waivered for accessions, if they meet all other vision and eye policies, but are career disqualified for aviation RK and LASIK remain disqualifying for accession, aviation and should be discouraged PRK, RK and LASIK are career disqualifying for aviation PRK for active duty members is like any other elective procedure, at the cost, time and risk of the individual. If a member can no longer meet retention standards due to an elective procedure, they may forfeit any disability benefits If the procedure renders a member unfit for duty, they will be disqualified for duty without medical disability compensation The member must convalesce on his own leave time... no sick leave is authorized. All of these procedures (i.e.: PRK, RK, LASIK) have been, are and will continue to be disqualifying for aviation, enlistment, appointment and induction. The only one that may be considered for a waiver (for enlistment only) to date is the PRK, but it would still be disqualifying for aviation, diving and commissioning. There are risks associated with proceeding with surgery, despite obtaining command approval: Click here for more information Air Force (top) Air Force Regulation 44-102, paragraph 1.27.1, states, "Performance of refractive surgery is prohibited in all Air Force Medical Facilities, except by fellowship trained corneal surgeons in direct support of the Wilford Hall Medical Center Ophthalmology Trained Program." Paragraph 1.27.3 further qualifies, "Active duty guard or reserve personnel who undergo refractive surgery must undergo a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB), and may be disqualified for continued duty. Standards for waivers are evolving as there is no guarantee that you will be able to serve in a desired capacity following refractive surgery. LASIK will be offered to airmen who are not considered aviation and special-duty personnel. “Aviation and special-duty personnel will continue to be covered under a separate surgeon general policy and are currently restricted from undergoing LASIK due to concerns regarding the stability of the corneal flap created during this procedure,” said Rhodes. “Selected special-duty personnel whose duties are not performed while flying, however, will be eligible for LASIK Aviation and Special Duty PRK Surveillance Program: This program is for pilots and aviation personnel. Pilots have to be evaluated and receive their PRK only at Wilford Hall (unit funded TDY). Others can have PRK at any USAF Warfighter center. Warfighter PRK Program: This is a program to do PRK for high priority Air Force personnel. Your commander’s authorization form needs to be filled out and returned to your Air Force eye clinic. The commander determines priority. The laser center will not pay for the TDY, just the laser treatment. Currently, there are five locations where Air Force people can get the PRK procedure, including Wilford Hall Medical Center; Travis Air Force Base, Calif.; the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.; Keesler AFB, Miss.; and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. While the Air Force does not reimburse members if they receive the surgery from civilian doctors, there are a few other Defense Department centers where the surgery is available. Click here for more information
Be sure to read Questions You Should Ask Your Surgeon.
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