>>EYESIGHT

can anyone confirm with me what the situation regarding laser eye procedures and entry to the army is? I read in the application form that if you have had Laser treatment on your eyes, they wont let you in! Is this true??? If so WHY!?!?!? It seems bizzare to me!!!

 

Possible night flaring for starters, potential for any number of other problems. Any type of laser eye surgery is an automatic exclusion on medical grounds for SF too.

 

I spoke to a Military doctor about it while I was still in the forces and he told me that the only reason we weren't supposed to get it done was because it had not beeen proven long enough to be recognised by the military. He also advised me to get it done as it was well worth it and to just not tell anyone if asked. It's actually a lot safer statistically than wearing contatc lenses.

 

Here is the latest guidelines that civilian optometrists have from MOD for the Army. There are different rules for the RAF and Navy.



Refractive Surgery


It is now recommended that the following methods of surgical correction of myopia or hypermetropia are now considered suitable for entry as an individual, case by case for non-specialist employment groups and subject to single service requirements:

a) Photo refractive keratectomy (PRK)

b) Laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK)

c) Intrastromal corneal rings (ICRs) or Intrastromal corneal segments (ICSs)

NB Entry will not be considered for radial keratotomy (RK) or astigmatic keratotomy (AK) or any other form of refractive surgery. All invasive intraocular surgical procedures will remain a bar to entry.


In order to be considered the prospective entry subject must fulfil the following criteria:

a. Provide appropriate documentary evidence to support that:

(1) The pre-operatively refractive error was not more than +6.00 or -6.00 dioptres (spherical equivalent) in either eye and;

(2) The best corrected visual acuity is 6/6 or better in the right eye, and 6/12 or better in the left eye and;

(3) At least 12 months have elapsed since the date of the last surgery or enhancement procedure and;

(4) There has been no significant visual side effects secondary to the surgery affecting daily activities and;

(5) Refraction is stable; as defined by two refractions performed on each eye at least 6 months apart, with no more than 0.50 dioptre difference in the spherical equivalent in each eye.

b. Referral for a comprehensive ophthalmic examination by a Service approved consultant ophthalmic surgeon and recommendation for suitability for entry. This must include specialist visual function testing by a centre of excellence approved by DMS.


These notes are for guidance only. Each case must be judged on its merits and the final decision as to a candidate's fitness will be made by the appropriate Army Medical Board.

 

Dterp,

Could you also post the reference and date of the document so that people can find it and quote it in the future?

Litotes

 

Apologies Litotes,

The reference is from Association of Optometrists web site
www.aop.org.uk (Click on Visual Standards for the relevant information) .

 

I have just done my medical forms for joining up, i have had laser eye surgery and on the optical form it mentioned Laser Eye surgery and listed the ones you were allowed to have, it listed all the ones that are available right now.

I have had Lasek, so fingers crossed i am still allowed in!

 

I am serving (NRPS) and had laser eye surgery earlier this year using wavefront technology. Went to see the civ MO (at RAF base) who explained the current procedure:

1. Visit MO at least 2 weeks prior to surgery to fill in forms & give them an opportunity to talk you out of it.
2. After surgery get company to write letter to MO listing before & after results and take to MO.
3. Get downgraded for 6 - 12 months at which point you need to supply a letter to MO from company listing all points found at periodic checks.
4. If all OK get upgraded.

Have spoken since to AMS personnel who spout several versions of the "don't do it you get kicked out & go blind" mantra and they still refuse to accept there is any good in the procedure and don't keep up with policy changes. I did my research over 5 years before taking the decision to get it done and have read both the pluses & minuses - obviously the pluses won the day for me .

 

This military doctor you spoke to...was he a bit dim ? Not telling anyone you have had corrective eye surgery will last about 3 minutes into your medical. When the doctor doing your medical has a quick look at your newly shaped eyeball it won't take the brains of a ...you guessed it....a doctor...... to work it out.

It is the first procedure that I will have done the day I leave the forces.

 

Ive posted before about this - and got a fare amount of abusive post for my troubles.

OK, here goes

The top doc in the Army is the Surgeon General.
He writes Policy - in letters called SGPLs!

SGPL does not support Laser treatment because the negatives AT PRESENT outweight the positives.

Its not a case of keeping up with the times, its what is good for the individual and the service!

Yes by all means have the procedure if you are in, but beware that it aint all easy and it aint risk free

 

Sorry English Springer - youre NRPS therefore not deployable

that makes a big difference in treatment. - less risk

 

I have had LASIK surgery on my eyes prior to signing up, and I was medically deferred from RSC for 3 months, while they checked up some details. They let me in that and it was never mentioned again, though.



That said, the doctor said that the flaps of cornea that are cut off during surgery and then stuck back on have been known to fall off during strenuous activity or contact sports, which doesn't sound too pleasant!

 

ynnaD

thanks for that info

I would love to be able to see correctly without having to wear glasses (i cant wear contacts)

but at the moment, like i've said - the disadvantages outweigh the advantages

The Duke of Kent was a high profile case - he looked as if he'd been battered in the eye - he was bruised and bloodshot for a fortnight. And I bet he didnt go for the cheapest option on laser surgery

 

This question has been raised before last year here

http://www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/Forums/viewtopic/t=22786.html

There seems to be a lot of people asking about having it done from ARRSE. The technology is continually improving. As always check the bona fides of the person going to slice at your eyes and don't rush it. It is difficult to reverse it and it may not work. It has the same risks as any surgery etc etc etc. Keep in mind many people aren't suitable for it when you have the initial checks done - I'm one as my contacts prescription changes frequently depending on whether I'm doing field work or not. There are also improvements to contact lens technology too which although is a bugger sometimes at least you can throw them away if they go wrong. Bit harder with your cornea.