LASIK and the U.S. Military
Click
images to jump to different branch sections |
Current
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.
Additional studies within the military were begun and examined military
specific issues such as parachute jumping and prolonged field duty after
laser refractive surgery.
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.
Warfighter Refractive Eye Surgery Program
(WRESP): USASOC allows PRK only. Ranger school
usually provides waivers for PRK and LASIK. All other commands allow
LASIK or PRK. PRK waivers are available three months after surgery.
LASIK
is disqualifying/non-waiverable for SOC schools (HALO, SCUBA, SFQC,
SERE).
Click here for
more information
Click here for Current
Policy
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
