Laser Surgery Battle-Worthy in Army's Eyes

Vision Treatment Shown to Give Soldiers an EdgeBy Steve Vogel

Washington Post Staff Writer

Monday, April 1, 2002; Page A01

--Excerpt--

The Army is building itself a better soldier, one eye at a time.

After years of skepticism, the military is embracing laser eye surgery with enthusiasm, envisioning soldiers in Afghanistan and other hot spots who no longer have to worry about glasses fogging up or contacts popping out due to combat.  "It makes people into potentially better soldiers, better able to perform their duties," said Bower, director of refractive surgery at Walter Reed, in Northwest Washington.

Just two years ago, anyone who had undergone such surgery would have been disqualified from active duty. 

Now, laser eye surgery is not only allowed, but it is also actively promoted to the military.  Today, Walter Reed is launching its Warfighter Refractive Eye Surgery Program.  There and at other Army hospitals across the country, the surgeons expect to correct the vision of thousands of soldiers in coming years.  The Air Force and Navy have similar programs.

"There's a huge demand for the procedure--probably more demand than we're going to be able to handle." Bower said.

The about-face came after a Department of Defense medical panel, after evaluating several years of research by the Navy, concluded that concerns about laser surgery damaging the structure of the eyes had not been borne out and that--to the contrary--the surgery was a way to improve the fighting forces.  Congress subsequently approved $15 million for the program.

Officials are quick to point out that the laser surgery is strictly voluntary.

Eyeglasses have long been troublesome for soldiers, and modern warfare has made the problem worse.  Increasingly the military is employing sophisticated weapons and gadgets where glasses can get in the way.  Soldiers who wear glasses need prescription inserts to wear gas masks.  The same is true of goggles being developed to protect soldiers from enemy lasers.

"If your glasses steam up or fall off, you've become a liability,"  Madigan said, "You're no longer part of the solution--you're part of the problem."

In harsh environments where U.S. troops often are deployed, contact lens can be even worse.  Many soldiers who wore contact lenses during the Gulf War ended up ditching them and wearing glasses, Madigan said.

Laser eye surgery was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1995.  Since then, more than 3 million Americans have had the surgery.

As part of its review, the Army monitored how members of its elite combat force, the Rangers, fared in rugged training conditions after having the surgery.  "They could jump out of planes at night, fight with pugil sticks, slog through swamps for weeks and not have problems, Madigan said.  "They reported it gave them an edge.  They didn't have to worry about fogging up their glasses or losing their (contact) lens."

The Army has established criteria for who should get the surgery first, according to Madigan.  Top priority will be given to infantry and Special Forces, followed by others deemed likely to face combat, including armor, artillery and combat engineers--"The people actually mixing it up, "Madigan said.  Within a unit, commanders may decide the priority, Madigan said.

The services estimate that 35 percent to 50 percent of service members need corrective lenses, but eligibility for laser surgery depends on the type of eye problem and other medical factors.  Initially, officials predicted that perhaps 30 percent of eligible troops would opt for the procedure.  But given its increasing popularity, the figure may be 70 percent to 80 percent, Rimm said.

Walter Reed's refractive surgery center has corrected the vision of nearly 200 service members since opening in January.  Soldiers who have had the procedure have given it rave reviews.

"It was 15 minutes, and I was out and seeing." said Spec. Antoine Flowers, assigned to a satellite control battalion at Fort Meade, while reporting for one-week checkup.  "This is the best thing since sliced bread.  I can see."

2002 The Washington Post Company

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