Comments on: Prk Laser Eye Surgery

By: Recruit565

Recruit565 — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:08:48 +0000

i HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY suggest that you NOT NOT NOT do that before you ship out. i am working with a guy now who did and DQ'd himself in the process.

By: daniel k

daniel k — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:54:55 +0000

The answer is: potentially. I have comanaged patients with
-12 and 13 who've achieved 20/20 vision. You must be established as a good candidate, though, i.e., having enough corneal tissue to reshape and still maintain the integrity of the physical structure of the eye.

By: chichibaby

chichibaby — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:29:37 +0000

If the army is paying for it (like they paid for mine) then it will be TDY. If you are paying for it out of pocket then you should get with your chain of command. They could give you a pass for it but you would still need a profile for a few weeks after the surgery.

EDIT: I would highly recommend asking if they can just give you a pass since you only need two days for the surgery. Then after the surgery is over give your paperwork to your PCP so you can get the standard profile they give all people who get eye surgery. Mine made me non-deployable for 30 days and I had a profile to wear sunglasses indoors and while in formation for 90 days. Also, I couldn't wear a mask or do PT for two weeks. There was a captain in my unit who paid out of his own pocket for one in town and I don't think he took any leave for it.

By: Alana

Alana — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:05:22 +0000

It is for safety. What they are worried about is a complication occurring which is not apparent at the time of the surgery, but which appears a few hours or days later, and which can occur in both eyes at once if both eyes were treated. An infection is one such complication. If an infection occurs, it usually will occur within the first two or so days postoperatively. An infection in both eyes, if severe, can lead to scarring, loss of vision, and even a need for a corneal transplant. Fortunately, the risk of an infection occurring in even just one eye is remote, but not zero.

Also, it can take up to one week to regain full vision in the eye that the surgery was done on. This way you have one functioning eye while the other recovers.

By: Paul M

Paul M — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:57:08 +0000

I had astigmatism and i had to get the prk surgery. usually with the misshapen lens, you do not have enough room on your eye for them to do the lasik. definitely go and get the free consultation, they will choose the best for you and address any concerns.

By: fred

fred — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:01:59 +0000

What more do you want ?

I gave you a link to an Air Force .mil web page that said, yes you can have PRK and be a Pilot.

Do you think the Air Force is lying ??

Did you even go read the web page?

How is anyone here, supposed to know, what the Air Force will do 2 years, or 5 years from now?

You haven't stated your age, so we don't have any idea just how long it will be before you had a college degree and tried to get a pilot slot.

Your best bet, no matter what your current age, is to wait until one year before you apply for a pilot slot, and then research the situation again.

There will be advances in eye surgery by then, maybe by then the Air Force will have new rules.

But just remember, for ROTC students, you apply for a pilot slot as a Junior. And as part of the application procedure, you have to complete a Class l physical, the PRK would have to be done a year before that physical.

By: ss

ss — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:10:04 +0000

first,. i'm NOT an eye doc, or in really any way qualified to give a medically correct answer.

however, i've had friends who have experienced miracles with refractive eye surgeries.

i'd go with the wave front technique, as it is more advanced and accurate.

By: Jackie S

Jackie S — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 19:08:42 +0000

Hi, Jackie.

I know when I was pregnant with each of my kids, my vision fluctuated more than a bouncing ball and finally, three years after my last one, I had PRK since I had a stable prescription for 2 years.

Pregnancy itself can cause vision changes…even without having had the laser vision correction surgery, so if you are thinking you might try again for another baby, you really might want to consider holding off on the PRK until you know you're done creating your family, then wait for the 1-2 years after your last delivery and have your enhancement. Perhaps, by then, your vision may also have gone back to where it was just prior to your daughter. Mine did…almost 7 years and three kids later, I was where I was with my prescription when my hubby and I were married, so I went ahead and got my PRK done just this last June.

I do not have the option of enhancements, but a coworker of mine had LASIK, then had three children, has noticed that her vision has gotten bad. Our youngests are the same age and she is considering going for a consult for an enhancement now that she's had stable vision for the last 2 years, as recommended by her optometrist (she was my touchstone when I was considering the procedure).

Check with your optometrist for their ideas…and I'd also contact the surgeon who did your original surgery with the same questions.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 18:40:52 +0000

I am thinking that recovery time depends on each person individually.
I had PRK done 1 week- 2 days ago & I still have blurry vision.
Due to the thinness of my cornea, PRK was my only choice.
I am still extremely light sensitive. Up until today, I spent the past 9 days basically in bed! I had a rough time. I am hoping my vision clears up soon. I guess it's 'normal', but just in case, call your eye Dr.
If I had to do it over, I would not!
I was told that there's only a 1% chance of anything going wrong during/after the surgery, so I will wait a few weeks before I get nervous about my eyesight.
Good luck with your healing.