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Refractive surgery in Israel Defense Forces recruits
Josepha Horowitz1, Eedy Mezer, Tzippora Shochat
1Surgeon General's HQ, Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces, Haifa, Israel. drgo@netvision.net.il
Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
|February 5, 2008
Summary
Refractive surgery is increasingly common in military recruits. Individuals undergoing refractive surgery are more likely to be assigned to combat units and have a lower dropout rate, indicating no negative impact on fitness for service.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Military Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Refractive errors are common among military recruits.
- Assessing the impact of corrective procedures on military readiness is crucial.
- Understanding trends in refractive surgery adoption within military populations is important.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of refractive surgery in Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recruits from 1998-2005.
- To evaluate the effect of refractive surgery on fitness for combat unit service.
Main Methods:
- Review of computerized medical records of ametropic IDF inductees (1998-2005).
- Inclusion of spectacle-wearers, contact lens-wearers, and post-refractive surgery individuals.
- Analysis of combat unit assignment and service continuation for refractive surgery patients versus corrective eyewear users.
Main Results:
- 597 inductees had refractive surgery between 1998-2005.
- Prevalence of refractive surgery increased from 0.8 to 4.9 per 1000 ametropes.
- Recruits with refractive surgery had higher combat unit assignment (73.5%) and lower dropout rates (13.1%) compared to eyewear users (29.2%).
Conclusions:
- Refractive surgery is increasingly utilized by IDF recruits prior to service.
- Refractive surgery does not negatively impact a recruit's ability to serve in combat units.
- A higher proportion of refractive surgery candidates are assigned to and remain in combat roles.
