Refractive surgery, such as LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis), is widely accepted by all branches of the United States military. LASIK uses a laser to reshape the cornea, correcting refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. This correction is sought by applicants meeting accession standards and active-duty personnel aiming to improve operational readiness by eliminating dependence on glasses and contact lenses. The Department of Defense (DoD) recognizes the operational benefits of clear, uncorrected vision, leading to comprehensive policies for pre-service and in-service vision correction.
Eligibility for Joining After Prior Vision Correction
Individuals who have undergone LASIK or a similar procedure, such as Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), before joining the military must meet specific DoD accession standards. The primary concern is ensuring the stability and quality of the corrected vision before entry. A mandatory recovery and stabilization period is required following the surgery.
Applicants must typically wait a minimum of six months to one year from the date of the procedure before being considered for enlistment or commissioning. This waiting period allows the corneal tissue to fully heal and the corrected vision to stabilize. Some branches or specific accession programs may require a full 12 months before a waiver is considered.
The candidate must provide complete medical documentation, including pre-operative records detailing the original refractive error, the operative report, and follow-up notes. The pre-operative refractive error must generally have been within certain limits, often not exceeding +8.00 to -8.00 diopters, for a waiver to be granted. Post-procedure visual acuity is often required to be 20/20 in each eye, a more stringent standard than for those without surgery.
Refractive surgery is considered a disqualifying condition for new accessions, necessitating a medical waiver process. The waiver request is submitted after the waiting period and must confirm that the vision has been stable for a defined period. This sometimes requires two refraction measurements taken six months apart with minimal change, ensuring the vision is reliably stable for military demands.
Requirements for Military-Sponsored Vision Correction
Active-duty service members are often eligible for vision correction through the military’s internal system, primarily under the Warfighter Refractive Eye Surgery Program (WRESP). This program provides the procedure at no personal cost for qualified personnel across all service branches. The goal of the program is to increase combat effectiveness and reduce reliance on corrective lenses in austere operational environments.
Eligibility requires several administrative steps, including obtaining approval from the service member’s commanding officer. This command endorsement is mandatory and often involves the commander assigning a priority level to the service member’s request. Applicants must also have a minimum period remaining on active duty, typically at least six months from the date of the scheduled surgery.
Military surgeons commonly offer both LASIK and PRK, with the choice depending on the service member’s medical candidacy and operational specialty. PRK is frequently the preferred procedure for military personnel due to the absence of a corneal flap, which offers greater long-term stability and resistance to trauma in high-impact environments. Some specialized roles, such as aviation or special operations, may require PRK over traditional LASIK.
The surgical decision is made by the military’s ophthalmology team after a comprehensive pre-operative evaluation. Service members must demonstrate vision stability, generally requiring their current prescription to have remained unchanged for at least one year before the procedure.
Post-Operative Recovery and Operational Limitations
Following refractive surgery, service members are subject to specific restrictions and mandated recovery periods to ensure proper healing and prevent complications. Patients are granted convalescent leave, often five to seven days, followed by a non-deployable or limited-duty profile. This initial profile typically lasts 30 days and restricts activities such as physical training, field exercises, and wearing a protective mask or face paint.
The non-deployable period varies based on the procedure. For LASIK, the period is often 30 days. For PRK, recovery is longer, frequently requiring up to 90 days before deployment, due to the regeneration of the cornea’s outer layer. Follow-up appointments are required at set intervals to monitor healing and visual acuity.
Refractive surgery does not automatically disqualify a service member from specialized roles, but it can affect eligibility. Specialized communities like aviation, diving, and special operations have specific post-operative requirements and may require a waiver before returning to full duty. The ultimate determination for returning to full operational status is made by an attending ophthalmologist or optometrist after the vision is deemed stable and recovery is complete.