Do Fighter Pilots Get Laser Eye Surgery for Vision Enhancement?

Yes, many fighter pilots undergo laser eye surgery such as LASIK or PRK to achieve better than 20/20 vision. The U.S. military has specific standards for vision, and pilots often require excellent visual acuity for their roles. While 20/20 vision is typically the minimum requirement, some pilots aim for even better vision post-surgery to enhance their performance and safety in high-stakes environments.

However, not all types of laser eye surgery are approved for military pilots, and each branch of the armed forces has its own policies regarding this. Pilots must also meet other medical and physical requirements, and the decision to undergo surgery is usually made after thorough evaluation and consideration of potential risks and benefits.

Are Laser Eye Surgeries Approved for Military Pilots?

Several branches of the U.S. military, including NASA, the Navy, and more recently the Air Force, have allowed their pilots to have LASIK and PRK. However, they have specified which techniques are allowed. For example, the Air Force now allows pilot members to undergo laser eye surgeries, but only using two specific lasers—the VISX Star S4 and the Allegretto Wave.

Studies have debunked the theories that LASIK-treated eyes would be affected by significant wind blasts. If a pilot experienced trauma severe enough to affect femtosecond laser-created flaps, the eye injuries would be the least of their concerns. Thus, the risks posed by wind blasts are minimal in comparison to the mechanical injuries that could occur during combat or training.

Why Do These Pilots Get LASIK?

There are minimum visual requirements for the various armed forces, and one should check with the specific branch for their requirements. As for getting better than 20/20 vision, this is a more complicated issue. Modern LASIK/PRK surgery uses wavefront technology to reduce certain higher order aberrations, imperfections as compared to standard LASIK/PRK. However, some studies have shown that certain pilots see better than others because they naturally have certain higher-order aberrations, such as coma, that actually enhance long-distance vision.

So, automatically reducing or eliminating coma in everyone would not necessarily make their vision better. The more we know about aberrations of the optical system, the more we realize that we don’t know. Thus, the decision to enhance vision through laser surgery should be made with a thorough understanding of one’s specific needs and the potential outcomes.

Conclusion

In summary, the various armed forces now do allow their pilots to have LASIK/PRK, but it is essential to check with the specific branch you are considering for their specific requirements before undergoing any treatment.

Disclaimer: This answer is not a substitute for professional medical advice. This answer is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or provide medical advice. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or in the United States, 911 immediately. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. Quora users who provide responses to health-related questions are intended third party beneficiaries with certain rights under Quora's Terms of Service.