Questions on LASIK or PKR

ProudMom7

USCGA Mom
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My daughter is currently a 4/c at USCGA who wears contacts, but she is interested in keeping her options open for flight school. She knows that LASIK or PKR are options, and she is already planning to make an appointment with the optometrist to make sure she is a good candidate for one or both of these procedures. She has attended info sessions and talked to some other cadets who have gotten the procedures, and now she is trying to figure out the best time to have the procedure done. She knows she has to get approval to have it done and that she has to have the procedure done on her own time.

She is doing her own research as well, but this post is mostly to get input from others who have had corrective eye surgery while at USCGA.
1) She is currently 19, and it looks like in general the recommendation is to wait til mid-20s for the procedure since eyes can continue to change. Obviously if she is hoping for flight school on graduation she would need to get it done while still at USCGA. When do most cadets have the procedure done? Summer before 2/c year? winter break of 2/c year? Summer before 1/c year? She was thinking about getting it done this summer, but we're wondering if she should wait at least an extra year to make sure her eyes/prescription are stable.
2) When are cadets medically evaluated for flight school? (Just so she knows the latest she could have it done) Is that fall of 1/c year? or sooner?
3) The recovery time is shorter for LASIK, so is there any advantage to PKR? (assuming she is a candidate for both)
4) Are there any restrictions or things that she would no longer be able to do with the Coast Guard if she had corrective surgery?

Appreciate the input.
 
1) I believe the most common time to get it done is winter break of 2/c year. Any later than that is too late, I believe.
2) Medical evaluation is fall of 1/c year.
3) I would say that's a question for/needs consultation with a doctor.
4) Not to my knowledge.

The only thing that I would add is that there is a common misconception that perfect 20/20 is necessary for flight school. It must be correctable to 20/20, but the uncorrected vision just needs to be better than 20/40. The aviation club actually held a meeting last night to inform people on the requirements/process. I'm thinking that that may be prompting these questions, but if not and she wasn't able to attend, reach out to me through PM if you'd like and I can try my best to get a slide deck or meeting recording or something emailed to her.
 
I thought there was an issue with one of the types for aviation.... something about possible issues at altitudes. That was a long time ago though and I had only half-way heard about it.
 
1) I believe the most common time to get it done is winter break of 2/c year. Any later than that is too late, I believe.
2) Medical evaluation is fall of 1/c year.
3) I would say that's a question for/needs consultation with a doctor.
4) Not to my knowledge.

The only thing that I would add is that there is a common misconception that perfect 20/20 is necessary for flight school. It must be correctable to 20/20, but the uncorrected vision just needs to be better than 20/40. The aviation club actually held a meeting last night to inform people on the requirements/process. I'm thinking that that may be prompting these questions, but if not and she wasn't able to attend, reach out to me through PM if you'd like and I can try my best to get a slide deck or meeting recording or something emailed to her.
Oh hey! This is good info for prospectives and their parents as well. What about astigmatism? My future cadet is 20/20, but wears glasses for astigmatism because he likes to see the world more sharply. Is astigmatism allowed?
 
1) I believe the most common time to get it done is winter break of 2/c year. Any later than that is too late, I believe.
2) Medical evaluation is fall of 1/c year.
3) I would say that's a question for/needs consultation with a doctor.
4) Not to my knowledge.

The only thing that I would add is that there is a common misconception that perfect 20/20 is necessary for flight school. It must be correctable to 20/20, but the uncorrected vision just needs to be better than 20/40. The aviation club actually held a meeting last night to inform people on the requirements/process. I'm thinking that that may be prompting these questions, but if not and she wasn't able to attend, reach out to me through PM if you'd like and I can try my best to get a slide deck or meeting recording or something emailed to her.

Thanks. That is probably what she attended, but I can ask her to be sure. I don't remember her exact vision, but it isn't better than 20/40. She would need the corrective surgery.

Also, you say anytime after winter of 2/c break is too late. I assume for the flight medical evaluation the cadets need to be x number of months post surgery. Do you know what that time is?
 
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Oh hey! This is good info for prospectives and their parents as well. What about astigmatism? My future cadet is 20/20, but wears glasses for astigmatism because he likes to see the world more sharply. Is astigmatism allowed?
Again, depends on severity, but some is allowed. I have minor astigmatism and cleared fine. More specific references/requirements on vision as well as other things can be found in CG Aviation Medicine Manual which can be Googled, too!
 
If medically qualified for both PRK and Lasik which procedure is preferred for pilots? DS will be 21 when having this done.
 
Several years ago, my Army O-3 (O-2 at the time) had the PRK procedure.

Yes, PRK is more invasive and the recovery time is much longer. However, he was told at the time that the military would only approve PRK for its better long term outcomes.

Aviation was not in the picture for him.
 
Oh hey! This is good info for prospectives and their parents as well. What about astigmatism? My future cadet is 20/20, but wears glasses for astigmatism because he likes to see the world more sharply. Is astigmatism allowed?
He had an astigmatism. Not sure if that entered the LASIK v. PRK debate.
 
I am a retired ophthalmologist who has never had any interest in refractive surgery. (Generally PRK is used for low myopia and LASIK for higher levels. I'm not sure of the cutoff.) Most importantly, this forum is not the place to find out which procedure is best and when to do it. This should be discussed with your surgeon who will consider age, degree of myopia, astigmatism, corneal thickness, tear status, etc of the patient. If you are not satisfied, go to another surgeon. Corneal surgery is not "nothing;" it is major surgery and should be treated as such.
 
I am a retired ophthalmologist who has never had any interest in refractive surgery. (Generally PRK is used for low myopia and LASIK for higher levels. I'm not sure of the cutoff.) Most importantly, this forum is not the place to find out which procedure is best and when to do it. This should be discussed with your surgeon who will consider age, degree of myopia, astigmatism, corneal thickness, tear status, etc of the patient. If you are not satisfied, go to another surgeon. Corneal surgery is not "nothing;" it is major surgery and should be treated as such.
We understand it is major surgery, and of course my daughter will be consulting with surgeons. But she still has questions that a surgeon won't be able to answer. 1) assuming that the surgeon says both options are possible for her eyes, does the Coast Guard recommend one over the other? 2) Does either PKR or LASIK limit the possible billets for a cadet in the future? 3) For flight billets specifically, is one version recommended over the other? 4) Is one riskier than the other?

She's also looking for opinions/feedback from other cadets who have had the process done.
 
By all means, talk to people who have had refractive surgery, but the procedure each one has had is irrelevant to your DD. If the surgeon recommends A and the Coast Guard demands B, I have a problem because, hopefully, he/she will recommend the procedure which is best for DD. In any event, she is on campus. Ask the the CG, not SAF. (Except Mr. Mullen)
 
We understand it is major surgery, and of course my daughter will be consulting with surgeons. But she still has questions that a surgeon won't be able to answer. 1) assuming that the surgeon says both options are possible for her eyes, does the Coast Guard recommend one over the other? 2) Does either PKR or LASIK limit the possible billets for a cadet in the future? 3) For flight billets specifically, is one version recommended over the other? 4) Is one riskier than the other?

She's also looking for opinions/feedback from other cadets who have had the process done.
Flight Surgeon's will be able to answer this question.
 
I thought there was an issue with one of the types for aviation.... something about possible issues at altitudes. That was a long time ago though and I had only half-way heard about it.
Army side used to be PRK was the only accepted type because of the concern about LASIK at altitude like you’re saying. Might have changed or not even apply to Coast Guars but definitely worth asking
 
My DS just had his exam with a Lasik/PRK surgeon. He hopes to become a Naval pilot. Is one preferred over the other (Lasik vs PRK)? The surgeon said he is a good candidate for both.
 
My DS just had his exam with a Lasik/PRK surgeon. He hopes to become a Naval pilot. Is one preferred over the other (Lasik vs PRK)? The surgeon said he is a good candidate for both.
Did you mean to post in the USNA forum rather than USCGA where we are right now? I assume your DS is a candidate/applicant?

!!! Proceed with deep caution with regard to LASIK or PRK. !!! See below link.

USNA will do that for midshipmen, usually their 2/c (junior) year, whose eyesight is within the approved range. They are very conservative, feeling that doing it when the mid is a bit more adult is the safer approach.


If your DS has further questions (assuming candidate-applicant), they should be posted in the DoDMERB Forum, where @MullenLE has a chance of seeing the post. Mr. Mullen is the Deputy Director, DoDMERB, and graciously serves as a source of official information here, often offering to communicate privately by phone or email with the candidate/applicant.

The Navy/joint service eye docs at Walter Reed NMMC look after USNA mids and know exactly what is required for aviation and other pre-comm physicals. Military aviators go through an accession physical before entering the service (DoDMERB), a pre-comm physical, and for Navy-Marine, another pre-aviation physical in Pensacola, the infamous “NAMI Whammy.” I think the mids we have sponsored over the years have gotten PRK. I don’t know what the current stance on LASIK is.
 
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Did you mean to post in the USNA forum rather than USCGA where we are right now? I assume your DS is a candidate/applicant?

!!! Proceed with deep caution with regard to LASIK or PRK. !!! See below link.

USNA will do that for midshipmen, usually their 2/c (junior) year, whose eyesight is within the approved range. They are very conservative, feeling that doing it when the mid is a bit more adult is the safer approach.


If your DS has further questions (assuming candidate-applicant), they should be posted in the DoDMERB Forum, where @MullenLE has a chance of seeing the post. Mr. Mullen is the Deputy Director, DoDMERB, and graciously serves as a source of official information here, often offering to communicate privately by phone or email with the candidate/applicant.

The Navy/joint service eye docs at Walter Reed NMMC look after USNA mids and know exactly what is required for aviation and other pre-comm physicals. Military aviators go through an accession physical before entering the service (DoDMERB), a pre-comm physical, and for Navy-Marine, another pre-aviation physical in Pensacola, the infamous “NAMI Whammy.” I think the mids we have sponsored over the years have gotten PRK. I don’t know what the current stance on LASIK is.
Do you know if Coast Guard cadets can go to the eye docs at Walter Reed? We aren't too far from there. I'll also mention it to my daughter so she can investigate.
 
Do you know if Coast Guard cadets can go to the eye docs at Walter Reed? We aren't too far from there. I'll also mention it to my daughter so she can investigate.
Your last sentence is the long pole in the tent. Your DD is the one to research the process and determine USCGA SOP for their cadets for this procedure.

Part of the answer may be in this link. Since there is not a DoD medical center facility in the neighborhood, specialty care is referred to local providers. This is standard for military people under TRICARE Prime who are remote from DoD major medical centers. The military CAC card serves as the insurance card and generally pays 100% for approved care outside MTFs (military treatment facilities).


No doubt some others will weigh in with factual experience. I suspect there is a local provider who is a long-time referral for this procedure. USCGA will want to minimize time away from school and keep a watchful eye.
 
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Do you know if Coast Guard cadets can go to the eye docs at Walter Reed? We aren't too far from there. I'll also mention it to my daughter so she can investigate.
The eye docs? Yes. The eye docs for LASIK/PRK? No. Cadets are allowed to get eye surgery (with military medical approval/consultation) but the Coast Guard will not approve it until after graduation, if then.
 
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