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Flying jobs now open to LASIK patients

People who have had LASIK corrective eye surgery are now eligible to apply for aviation and aviation-related jobs, the Air Force announced Thursday.

The change took effect Monday after studies showed there was little or no difference between LASIK-treated eyes and untreated eyes when subjected to the wind blast experienced during aircraft ejection or exposure to high altitude.

All applicants to aviation-related career fields — regardless of whether they have had corrective eye surgery — must still meet the vision requirements articulated in AFI 48-123.

The change also removes the altitude and high-performance aircraft restrictions for people who have had LASIK.

The Air Force is recommending two particular types of LASIK surgery for aviation candidates: Wave Front Guided Photorefractive Keratectomy, or WFG-PRK, and Wave Front Guided Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis, or WFG-LASIK, using the femtosecond laser.

The eyes are more trauma resistant after surgery using one of these methods compared to other forms of surgery, according to the Air Force’s press release.