Medical processing

[dk57]

I'm joining the Guard and will be leaving in about two months. I'm headed down to Benning for Basic, then OCS, IOBC, and on to Ranger and possibly Airborne. After that, I'll be assigned to the 29th Infantry Division (Light) with the intention of switching to SF when I make 1LT.

My situation is this: I wear contacts, and though my vision is good enough to qualify for SF, Ranger, airborne, I know that from an operational standpoint dealing with glasses/contacts will be a pain in the ass. I was thinking about getting laser eye surgery (LASIK) before I left and not telling anyone. I know it may sound stupid, but can you pull something like that off?

Thanks in advance

[RangerTom]

I don't recommend it. If they find out then your Road to SF is through. From What I've heard, after you get your long tab, it doesn't matter, although the army has not yet approved of the surgery to my knowledge.

Take care.

Tom

RLTW

[WS-G]

dk57:

Army regs prohibit the use of contact lenses in the field. Glasses are definitely the way to go if you need correction.

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ex Co. G (-)(Abn/Rgr), 143d INF(LRRP), TXARNG 1981-1985
ex 433MAW (AFRES), 1985-1991
FAA-certificated pilot and Advanced Ground Instructor

[Scout]

dk,

LASIK isn't allowed by the Army, but soldiers, especially SF guys are starting to be allowed to get PRK. Not sure what the differenece is exactly, have heard the LASIK is better, but PRK has been around longer and the long-term effects are better known than LASIK.

scout

[Overland]

DK,

Where will you be drilling?

Overland

[dk57]

Actually, the Army now accepts LASIK and PRK for new recruits, but LASIK is disqualifying for Ranger, Airborne, SF, and diving.
Is seems to me that the only reason LASIK disqualifies someone is that the Army is just a step behind times. LASIK is also a more expensive and skill-intensive procedure than PRK, so the Army needs time and money for training and equipment.
How would the Army find out if I had it done? Also, I want to draw as little attention to my self as possible. Will having to wear glasses in the Ranger, airborne, SF community make it more difficult?

William M Salter: I'm sure soldiers wear contacts regardless of that regulation. I know in my case, I feel much more comfortable in contacts and seem better suited than glasses in an operational environment.

Overland: I will be drilling with the 1-104th infantry out of Mass. I was going to Co. A, but they will be in Bosnia when I get done with my training.

[This message has been edited by dk57 (edited 07-31-2000).]

[LRSC Grunt]

About 3 out of 5 of every swinging dick wears glasses, dont be ashamed. If you want to be highspeed, get the ugliest, nastiest, thichest frames you can find. Most preferably the ones at US Cav. I think they make a joe look hooah.

[WS-G]

dk57:

Negative. Even in the early 1980's, well before the Army established a service-wide policy WRT contact lenses in the field, I always left my contact lenses at home when I went to the field (back when I had those damned things, anyway!). Trust me on this one — there are excellent reasons why you do not want to wear contact lenses in their field:

(1) Risk of ocular trauma. This is more of a factor with hard lenses than the soft types, but even the soft ones will leave microscopic lesions on your corneas which will take several weeks to heal after you stop wearing them altogether. Any ophthalmologist can spot them instantly during an eye exam; this is how they can tell whether you've worn contact lenses recently.

(2) Trapped particles. These are extremely painful. Not a factor with glasses. I speak from personal experience, having worn glasses since the age of 11 (I'm 36 now) and having had contact lenses in the distant past.

(3) Dislodged lens. Quite uncomfortable as well as a pain in the ass to correct when (not "if") it happens.

(4) One lost lens. Try putting on your spare pair of spectacles before taking the time to remove the other contact lens — you'll still be out-of-focus in one eye. In the unlikely event your frames break or you lose a spectacle lens, simply don your spare pair and drive on. Simple.

(5) http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/eek.gifChemicals! http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/eek.gif Contact lenses and the chemically contaminated environment don't mix. Vapors do get trapped behind those things! Professional pesticide applicators never (if they're in their right minds) wear those things; in fact, I know of at least one country (New Zealand) whose Civil Aviation Authority specifically forbids aerial applicators to wear contact lenses. Smart ag-pilots who need correction wear glasses, and smart ground-troops do as well where chemicals are concerned.

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ex Co. G (-)(Abn/Rgr), 143d INF(LRRP), TXARNG 1981-1985
ex 433MAW (AFRES), 1985-1991
FAA-certificated pilot and Advanced Ground Instructor

[caveman]

Just talked with one of our instructors here at SWTG who just had this "PRK". As of right now, only SOF personnel are allowed this surgery, seems that everyone wants it, and do to a backlog of people being screened it could take from 6 to 9 months from the date your commander signs off on it. Note the cost is somewhere around $5000 to $7000, if I were you, I'd join then have the surgery done.

Also the recovery time is not over night, after about a month you should be seeing 20/10 without glasses, and for a few hours to a few days you’ll be wearing those “darth vador” glasses. But if you do have the money to pay for it yourself I’d say you have two choices….

1) Have it done before you enter.

2) Wait till you enter the service, by then everyone should be allowed to have this surgery done for free, and send the $5000 to $7000 to the following address.

TWK FUND
P.O. BOX 74311
FORT BRAGG, NC 28307

Make check payable to TWK

And thank you for your support