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