<p>Eye surgery techniques are constantly being re-evaluated.</p>
<p>But some definite statements that still remain true - the academies don't want to bring in candidates who went and had eye surgery before entering into the academy.</p>
<p>The service academies have offered PRK to almost all mids/cadets who would like to get the surgery. Only recently is the Navy Academy permitting a few instances of LASIK rather than PRK, but LASIK is still disqualifying for certain communities. </p>
<p>As the number of surgeries for both PRK and LASIK have increased significantly, there represents a vast number of people to evaluate whether or not there are adverse conditions that could cause problems - and in general, the results have been excellent.</p>
<p>Many eye laser surgery centers are advertising that NASA has approved both PRK and LASIK. If LASIK is okay for launching into space where both hi-g launches and zero g conditions are experienced, how would carrier launches and traps be evaluated as compared to what NASA astronauts experience?</p>
<p>Ultimately, candidates for a service academy should wait til until they can get the surgery done for free, under government control.
(And 20/400 correction to 20/20 - not normally a problem unless the cornea is too thin, or other special conditions do exist. My son had PRK last fall (20/400 before, now 20/20) - and he loves his new vision!! He can go aviation, but selected Nuc Subs.)</p>
<p>pk... Why don't you have your eyes checked by an optometrist or opthamologist instead of your orthopedist. You may come up with an entirely different response as to your vision... Just a thought...</p>
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pk... Why don't you have your eyes checked by an optometrist or opthamologist instead of your orthopedist. You may come up with an entirely different response as to your vision... Just a thought...
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<p>I was thinking the same thing; ha. I have a feeling he meant ophthalmologist though. Ortho = bone doc, Ophtho=eye doc with an M.D.(surgery), Optomotrist = eye doc who went to optometry school (no surgery)</p>
<p>Currently the navy is doing research in San Diego regarding LASIK in aviators. The latest LASIK in the military is IntraLase where a laser creates the flap. The concern for LASIK is the flap that is created. The flap can become dislodged multiple ways; the most common being a finger (or other object) to the eye. The thoughts that it could become dislodged during ejection or other high g maneuver have been largely disproven (one way was by blasting rabbits with high pressure air if my memory serves me correctly)</p>
<p>As to final results there are miniscule differences to PRK and LASIK, both have good results. LASIK has quicker return to work time and you have corrected vision right away. PRK takes a few days to feel good and also have clear vision.</p>
<p>Overall the key right now is to do it through the military and follow the most current guidelines regarding waivers if you want to do flight. For the most recent updates you can visit the Naval Operational Medicine Institute website and specifically:</p>