Freaking LASER beams...

By Mr. T's Haircut on December 20, 2007 | | Comments (5)

Time for a predeployment sitrep. It has been a while since I posted. It took me a while to be able to see the keyboard.

One of the benefits of military medicine is the PRK/LASIK procedures offered at the various military health/medical centers.

I had the PRK back in 2002 when I was assigned to the ship. I am not a vain person and after years of flight status with cool aviator glasses, I simply decided I had had enough. So I jumped into the line and got the peepers zapped. Over time and the fishing trips with the intense Florida sun, the eyes regressed enough to merit occasional eyeglass wear.

Going the through the predeployment physical screening and checklists I came upon the "ballistic lenses" and "prescription eye inserts for gas mask", and thought I would just go get the retreat of the eyes to put them back into standards. So I jumped into the stand by line for the Army Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl Germany, Warrior Laser Center. I had to go into a wait list but my pending deployment to the Stan got me bumped in priority. I went into standby for the Navy quota and after 3 months they called me and told my eyes would be zapped the Monday after Thanksgiving if I could make it up there.

Landstuhl and Ramstein is incredibly packed with Army Green and Air Force Blue. I felt like the fish out of water. My visit coincided with the Army - Navy game, and I debated if I should wear my NAVY sweatshirt to my surgery. My gosh, I have never seen so many shoppettes or class 6 stores in one place!

The week came and they zapped the eyeballs, and it appears that things are on track. I have some walleye vision, but after recuperating with some great German Heffen and Helles in Garmisch, I am back to 90%. I am extremely pleased with the fine folks at LMRC and the military medicine. Now if I can just remember where I left my car keys...

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5 Comments

By fdcol63 on December 20, 2007 8:23 AM
" ... but after recuperating with some great German Heffen and Helles in Garmisch ... " Run it in, Mr. T ..... run it in. LOL But enjoy it while you can before your deployment.
 
By fdcol63 on December 20, 2007 8:24 AM
OK ... should have been "Rub it in .... rub it in." Fatfingeritis this morning.
 
By kat-missouri on December 20, 2007 12:31 PM
My brother had it done seven years ago and he swears by it. Tried to get me to do it. I think they are working on the memory thing, too. If you stay in long enough, they might be able to fix the the misplaced key thing.
 
By AW1 Tim on December 21, 2007 12:54 AM
Hey MTH, I had cataracts come in early and I put off the surgery as long as I could. Despite all the warrior stuff I did, I still have this phobia of needles... but I digress. Anyway, had I known then what I know now, I would've had the surgery long ago, and I can't understand why they don't offer it as an alternative to the lasik-type stuff. Basically, in the old days they would remove the organic lens that was troubled by the cataract, and replace it with a clear glass (read hi-impact plastic) lens. You'd heal up and go back to wearing glasses. Nowadays, however, they insert corrective lenses. That's right. Permanent contact lenses that correct you to 20/20 OR BETTER. On top of that, the lenses have a U/V coating, so you only need sunglasses to protect against glare, not against U/V damage. Frikking amazing. Now, I still need reading glasses for anything inside of 12" of my eyes, but all in all, I can do anything else sans glasses and it's incredible. The surgery was a snap. No stitches either. Pne tiny incision of the edge of the cornea, less than 2mm. They use an ultrasound to destroy the organic lens, and suction it out. Then they pop in the plastic corrective lens, put on a bandage, and send you home. Next day, they remove the cover and check it all out. You have to take a regimine of eye drops for about 30 days, but darned..... I had 20/20 vision in just over 24 hours from surgery. I also spent some time in Garmisch. What a wondeful liberty spot.
 
By sandman6actual on December 21, 2007 9:09 AM
Just had PRK done in October. I went from 20/40 in my right eye and 20/100 in my left to 20/12 in both eyes. After wearing glasses for 23 years, I LOVE IT and highly recommend it.