Indeed our eyes are one of the most delicate part of our body and thus they need special attention and care. The need to have perfect eye vision is more important for the soldiers as they have to rely a lot on their eyes. Realizing the same, the U.S. Army has decided to set up an eye clinic that will render its services of laser eye surgery exclusively for soldiers and on top of the list would be those who are to move to the war-stricken Iraq.
The LASIK (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis) surgery at the clinic would be performed at least 90 days before a soldier gets deployed. Currently the number of the laser surgery performed is 500 per year but the clinic aims for a triple amount.
Mike Ives supervisor at the eye clinic in Evans Army Community Hospital is encouraging soldiers to opt for the surgery as if soldiers wear glasses there are chances of getting them knocked off or lost during patrol causing problems to the soldiers.
Recently opened Air Force Academy eye clinic became the first such clinic that offered its LASIK surgery services giving another chance of flying to the pilots as pilots with glasses or contacts are not allowed to fly.
However, there have been questions regarding laser-repaired eyes stating that they will not be able to withstand ejection from planes flying at supersonic speeds.
In all the Army has eight clinics in addition to Evans that have facility of performing LASIK surgery. The procedure of surgery improves the eyesight by altering the shape of the cornea.
Source: Cbs13