Imagine going from being legally blind to being an elite fighter pilot for the U.S. Air Force. Thanks to advances in LASIK surgery and new guidelines from the Air Force, this has become a reality for many recruits. While the Air Force has allowed people who have undergone traditional photo refractive keratectomy (PRK) since 2001, it was not until May 2007 that it was announced that LASIK was also an acceptable vision correction treatment for potential pilots.

Reason for the Change

Why has it taken so long for LASIK to be accepted by the Air Force? The reason is simply that they needed more time to assess the safety and effectiveness of the procedure. LASIK is relatively new and many issues unique to pilots simply had not been studied before. Officials first need to know how the small cut made during the LASIK procedure would react to high-altitudes environments. Fortunately, research has demonstrated that even extreme wind pressure and high-altitude flights have little to no affect on the LASIK flap.

Of course, pilots are not the only ones clamoring for the procedure. Recruits in several branches of the military, including submarine crew members and combat soldiers, are eligible for LASIK eye surgery. At a cost of only $600 per eye, the potential benefits are well worth the taxpayer expense.

Investing in Change

Recently, the U.S. Air Force went a step further in its new support of LASIK surgery. The Defense Department opened the Joint Warfighter Refractive Surgery Center in Texas at Lackland Air Force Base. In a statement issued by the chief of the surgery center, Dr. Charles Reilly said, "Every year, the U.S. Air Force spends billions of dollars upgrading the capabilities of our weapons systems. The new laser ambulatory surgery center brings the latest state-of-the art technology to allow us to upgrade the avionics of our most important weapons system -- our people."

Benefits of LASIK

Thanks to the Air Force's new policy, thousands of people who would have previously been ineligible for pilot training can now pursue their dreams. However, that is not the only benefit. Some of the newest LASIK techniques can actually improve vision even more than corrective eyewear. For people who are sick and tired of struggling with uncomfortable glasses and contact lenses, LASIK is an invaluable option that can lead to clearer vision.

The great news is that the latest developments in LASIK surgery have significantly reduced the risk of complications. In the past, some people avoided laser vision correction out of fear of overcorrection, undercorrection, halos, starbursts or diminished visual acuity. A new technique known as wave-front guided custom LASIK allows surgeons to correct vision with greater precision, thus minimizing potential risks.