More efficient processes aid Airmen receive eye surgery

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Mercedes Muro
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Airmen seeking corrective eye surgery, such as LASIK, can now receive corneal refractive surgery faster at the 19th Medical Group here.

Thanks to diligence and hard work at the optometry clinic, there's no longer a waitlist and more active-duty Airmen can receive corneal refractive surgery (CRS).

"I'm very proud of my team here at the Little Rock Air Force Base optometry clinic," said Maj. Nathan Anderson, the 19th Aerospace Medicine Squadron optometry flight commander. "They've worked hard to streamline the surgery application process. There used to be a two and a half year waitlist, but now we can process patients much faster."

Once the patient has scheduled an eye exam at the optometry clinic, the staff will review medical history to ensure one is qualified for the surgery. Airmen will need to bring in a prescription that is at least a year old. If they do not have one, they have the option to bring in an old civilian prescription.

Qualified applicants will receive application forms that must be signed by their supervisor, unit deployment manager and squadron commander.

Airmen will be able to schedule and choose a surgery center to complete their CRS once the forms have been approved.

Airmen can choose from the following seven refractive surgery centers: Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi; Joint Base San Antonio, Texas; Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Andrews AFB, Maryland; Travis AFB, California; the Air Force Academy, Colorado; and JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Airmen will travel to the surgery center as a permissive temporary duty, where travel and lodging are at their own expense. Service members will be at their surgery center for 7-10 days.

After their surgery, service members will be non-worldwide qualified for up to four months. Flyers will be on duty not involving flying status (DNIF) until they meet all applicable vision standards, which usually takes up to three to four months after their surgery.

Requirements:

· Active duty military or active-duty reservists must be eligible for active-duty medical benefits
· Airmen must be projected to stay at Little Rock Air Force Base for the next 9-10 months. (No permanent change of stations, TDYs, deployments, retirements or separation)
· Air Force personnel must have six months retainability from the surgery date. It takes at least two months to get from the initial exam to surgery date.

Disqualifiers:

· Women pregnant or planning to be pregnant within one year of their initial eye exam. Women must be at least six months post-partum or post-nursing to apply for CRS.
· Having diabetes or an auto-immune disease, such as psoriasis, Crohn's Disease, multiple sclerosis, vitiligo.
· Medicines such as Accutane, Imitrex, steroids and certain heart medications are temporarily disqualifying

Although the process may seem time-consuming, optometrists here agree that CRS has a beneficial impact.

"As someone who has had the surgery myself, I whole-heartedly recommend it for those who qualify," Capt. Cody Peterson, a 19th AMDS optometrist. "It enhances medical readiness, especially during a deployment. It's a life changing procedure."

To see if you qualify for CRS, visit http://www.refractiveeyesurgery.org for more information. Call (501) 987-8811 to schedule your appointment at the optometry clinic.