oh okay, If you were near southern california I would be able to help you out
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LASIK Now an Option
- Thread starter Crazy*Carl
- Start date
RiseR 25
Well-Known Member
No Problem, keep San Diego classy my friend. Thanks for all of your input!
KSUwildcat13
New Member
I am pretty confused on this whole subject. My recruiter originally was telling me that PRK was the only procedure acceptable but has since switched to suggesting that LASIK is preferable. I am hesitant because of the requirement of acceptance into the study program as a condition of the waiver. I am having my consult done May 17th and was wondering if anyone can help clear my head on PRK vs LASIK. It seems that PRK is almost a guaranteed waiver as long as the conditions are met and LASIK seems shaky to me, yet my recruiter suggested that I get LASIK instead of PRK. Can anyone explain this to me?
exNavyOffRec
Well-Known Member
PRK is almost a guaranteed waiver, since LASIK is still in the study stage right now they can say it won't be an issue bringing you in to the study, but since it is a "study" they can change the rules whenever they want, so get LASIK if you want to take a chance.
KSUwildcat13
New Member
So why would anyone choose LASIK if it involves an extra inherent risk that PRK does not? Do you have any idea how long LASIK will be in the "study stage"? I am only a sophomore in college so I have plenty of time and it could be worthwhile to wait until the study is over to make sure my eyes have fully stabilized if LASIK is the better procedure. Would it be worth my time to do that or try to get PRK/LASIK now and take the risk? Sorry to blast you with questions.
RiseR 25
Well-Known Member
KSUwildcat13,
LASIK is popular now due to the fact that the patient is expected to heal in a shorter timeframe. Also, please pay attention to the difference between LASIK and IntraLase. IntraLase to the best of my knowledge is the only form of LASIK now approved for the study. NavyOffRec is right on the money, I would definitely follow his advice when it comes to choosing the procedure that will guarantee a waiver, in this case PRK.
In my case it's a matter of personal preference and lasting effects of the procedure, If I were to get something like this done it would be for the overall improvement of my quality of life. Anything else (i.e. opportunity to serve in Naval Aviation) would be a plus and a great way to give back in service to the nation.
If you haven't already, go through BleedGreen's post with the attached documents in detail. That's the best stuff I've seen in a long time, and probably the most up to date you will find.
Good luck
LASIK is popular now due to the fact that the patient is expected to heal in a shorter timeframe. Also, please pay attention to the difference between LASIK and IntraLase. IntraLase to the best of my knowledge is the only form of LASIK now approved for the study. NavyOffRec is right on the money, I would definitely follow his advice when it comes to choosing the procedure that will guarantee a waiver, in this case PRK.
In my case it's a matter of personal preference and lasting effects of the procedure, If I were to get something like this done it would be for the overall improvement of my quality of life. Anything else (i.e. opportunity to serve in Naval Aviation) would be a plus and a great way to give back in service to the nation.
If you haven't already, go through BleedGreen's post with the attached documents in detail. That's the best stuff I've seen in a long time, and probably the most up to date you will find.
Good luck
KSUwildcat13
New Member
Thanks for the help. My consult is the 17th and hopefully after that I can make my final decision. I was always leaning towards PRK as NavyOffRec suggested but my recruiter had me confused. Thanks again
exNavyOffRec
Well-Known Member
I myself prefer LASIK over PRK, and I don't believe there are more risk, however I am not a eye doc and don't know the effects of the stress pilots endure and what the concerns are.
Who knows how long it could be in the study stage, someone could decide to end the study and make LASIK fully available tomorrow, or it could go the other way, someone that gets paid a hell of a lot more than me makes those decisions. My biggest thing is LASIK is a big gray area and it could go either way depending on someones feelings.
Who knows how long it could be in the study stage, someone could decide to end the study and make LASIK fully available tomorrow, or it could go the other way, someone that gets paid a hell of a lot more than me makes those decisions. My biggest thing is LASIK is a big gray area and it could go either way depending on someones feelings.
Wanted to add some semi-useful gouge to this discussion. I'm a pro-rec for SNA waiting on a waiver for LASIK. I had the surgery in early June and it went awesome. Pretty much painless, and seeing 20/25 the next day after surgery. By a week my vision was absolutely perfect, minus the fact that my eyes were very dry and required lots of eye drops, the usual. Anyway, I had my flight physical in March and saw the optometry specialist and flight surgeon and they both seemed to think I would have no problems getting a waiver for the surgery. They said it could take up to three months. I will update when/if I receive said waiver. All that being said, I highly recommend IntraLase Lasik and it was definitely money well spent no matter what.
Once the study fills up, there is a two year clinical stage before it can be approved as an auto-waiverable procedure like PRK currently is. As of one month ago the study was at 55 patients out of the 200. They opened the study in 2008 and enrollment has moved a little slower than they expected however they anticipate that to change in the near future. The problem they have are people like you and I who don't feel comfortable taking that risk since their is another option that is guaranteed to get them in.
I couldn'
t answer your question but I can give you the contact information of the person who approves the waivers at NAMI....PM me if your interested
I finished my flight physical at OCS in October and I had a chance to speak with the aviation optometrist about the "LASIK in student naval aviators study." She informed me that the study has concluded and LASIK is now an "auto-waiverable" procedure, so long as you meet the standards outlined in the waiver guide. An applicant no longer has to be enrolled in the study to receive the waiver.