LASIK

Thermite187 · Guest

What are the requirment for LASIK or PRK eye operations. I thought I found a page that said it was ok; however, I can't find it again. If anyone can tell me a yes or a no and preferable a AR or something to back it up. Thanks alot

Rob · Guest

Go to this webpage and click on the PRKLASIK link.:

http://www.usaarl.army.mil/

Kris · Guest

I am entering into the University of North Dakota's Army Helicopter Flight Training Program and I recently had LASEK eye surgery to qualify myself for that program. I was going to get PRK eye surgery because it was cheaper but was told that the Army only accepted LASEK surgery. I contacted the Army and found out for sure that they do accept LASEK eye surgery, but it can be a disqualifier. The Major that I talked to that is my advisor in the program told me that I will have a 50/50 chance in the program even with the LASEK eye surgery being successful. I would suspect that the same could be said about going in with the Warrant Officer approach. As for the surgery, my advice to you would be to get the best surgery that you can from the best doctor available. I was fortunate enough to have one of the creators of the eye surgery closebye in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I hold Doctor Vance Thompson in the highest regards. You can find out all about LASEK eye surgery at http://www.vancethompson.com/ I received the CustomLASIK option and I now have 15/20 vision in both eyes. Good luck to you.

-Kris Schwartz
kristopherschwartz@hotmail.com

Mike · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 1

Kris--

Could you clarify? You refer to LASIK and LASEK, which are different procedures. I understand that LASIK may be accepted as part of the Army's refractive surgery study program, but that LASEK is considered a variant of PRK and is therefore, it appears, preferred. It's also my impression that PRK is actually the preferred surgery (in the Army's view), and that an existing waiver policy for PRK exists, whereas any LASIK waiver would be approved only on approval for entry into the study program.

Any information you (or anyone else) has would be helpful. This is apparently an area of changing policy, and you get different answers from different folks. Thanks.