LASIK for Soldiers

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From: Lt. Col Maximilian Psolk CRDAMC Chief of Ophthalmology

(April 15, 2008) -- The CRDAMC Refractive Surgery Center is ready to make Soldiers see better with no need for corrective lenses.

The staff is at full strength and ready to treat 60-80 Soldiers weekly for the next 12 months and hopefully beyond.

If you are on active duty and wear glasses or contact lenses to see better, visit us on the second floor of Carl R. Darnall Army Medial Center.

The RSC is located within the CRDAMC-EENT Clinic; phone number is 286-7952.

After an examination, it’ll be determined a Soldier’s eligibility for PRK or LASIK to improve vision and rid those spectacles and contact lenses. Department of Defense requirements are:

o You must have at least 18 months of active-duty service
o You must be nondeployable for three months after the surgery.
o You will be restricted from physical training and field exercises for 30 days after surgery.
o Your commander must sign a letter stating these restrictions are understood and will be enforced.
O You must not wear your contact lenses at least three weeks before your first visit.

Since potential patients are nondeployable for three months after PRK or LASIK, Soldiers should start the process at least four months before your next deployment so that the RSC can schedule your surgery before that three-month window.

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Posted by: docshear Location: Dallas on Apr 16, 2008 at 10:24 AM
I was the chief of the Optometry Clinic WEED ACH NTC Ft Irwin,Ca. During Desert Shield/Storm. I have also been treating post-op PRK since 1994 and LASIK Patients since 1997. I had PRK done on myself in 1997 even after the advent of LASIK. I can say based on my experience with Desert based Field injuries that combat related Eye injuries will be greatly complicated if a soldier has had LASIK. The ability to treat and/or reposition a cap dislocation in a field situation will be difficult if not impossible. It will warrant if a soldier has had LASIK and had a minor Eye Trauma/Contusion Medical Evacuation to prevent vision loss. Where a similarly injured soldier that has had PRK would require a pressure bandage or bandage contact lens. I have long been out spoken about LASIK use in combat troops or Athletes who can Sustain Eye Injuries. Caution should be exercised and the Combat Soldiers / Atheletes should be warned of the possibilty of complications. Dr. Mark Shear former Cpt. USAR MSC

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