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Refractive surgery in the United States Air Force
Vasudha A Panday1, Charles D Reilly
1Department of Ophthalmology, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Joint Warfighter Refractive Surgery Center, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas 78236, USA. vasudhapanday@hotmail.com
Current Opinion in Ophthalmology
|April 29, 2009
Summary
Photorefractive keratectomy is common in the Air Force, but femtosecond laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis is increasing. Both procedures are now approved for aviators and non-aviators, ensuring visual readiness.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Military Medicine
- Surgical Innovation
Background:
- Laser refractive surgery has been a key program in the United States Air Force (USAF) since 2001.
- The USAF has stringent visual demands for its personnel, making refractive surgery outcomes critical.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize recent advancements in USAF laser refractive surgery programs.
- To review developments in photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK).
Main Methods:
- Review of presentations at national meetings.
- Analysis of recently published articles.
- Inclusion of unpublished data from ongoing studies on PRK and LASIK.
Main Results:
- Photorefractive keratectomy remains the most frequent corneal refractive surgery in the USAF.
- There is a growing trend towards femtosecond laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (femtosecond LASIK) due to established flap superiority over microkeratome-assisted flaps.
- Both PRK and LASIK are now approved for non-aviators and aviators, with aviators requiring additional testing like contrast sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- The quality and safety of refractive procedures are paramount for USAF members with demanding visual tasks.
- Continuous evaluation of refractive surgery advancements is essential for maintaining airmen's visual readiness.
