1. Download and complete DHA FORM 237, Request for Refractive Surgery Consultation (Only digitally completed and signed forms are accepted). 
2. Complete initial pre-operative evaluation with a local optometrist (Your local optometrist must be located within 2-hour drive from where you live). 
3. Complete a second pre-operative evaluation at LRMC WRESP once you have emailed your packet found under “Prospective Applicants” tab
4. Schedule/Obtain Surgery
5. Complete Post-Operative Care 

Q: How long does it typically take from the time I start pursuing refractive surgery until I am ready to be scheduled for treatment?

A: Currently about 4 - 8 weeks, based on the prioritization category you are assigned by your line commander or his delegate. This varies based on demand, however, and may change in the future.

Q: Do I have to be out of my contact lenses before my pre-operative evaluations? If so, how long and why?

A: Yes, you need to be out of your contact lenses before being evaluated because contact lenses can affect the shape of your cornea. We usually require that patients be out of their soft contact lenses for a minimum of 4 weeks. For hard contact lenses, the time is longer, typically a minimum of 12 weeks. Even after your pre-operative appointment is over, DO NOT put your contacts back in!

Q: After my pre-operative evaluation appointment, I will have my actual laser procedure scheduled. On average, how long will I typically have to wait for treatment day?

A: If you live within a two-hour drive of the Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC), about 2 - 4 weeks. If you live outside the KMC area, then we make an effort to schedule your pre-operative evaluation AND your laser treatment close together so you get them done on the same trip to the KMC area. Often, they are just two days apart.

Q: I’m stationed far away from the KMC. How long should I expect to spend at LRMC when I come for my surgery?

A: To facilitate service members stationed far away from LRMC, you can request that our administrative staff to schedule your preoperative testing at LRMC and surgery on the same visit. “Long distance” patients are typically scheduled to see the Refractive Surgery Optometrist on either a Monday or Tuesday (depending on the surgery schedule). On the following day you will attend a group briefing with the surgical team and then meet one-on-one with one of the Refractive Surgeons. On the third day you will undergo refractive surgery.
 
All patients undergoing LASIK must be seen at the LRMC Refractive Surgery Clinic on the day after your surgery. Typically, a second postoperative visit is not necessary until the following week. This and future visits can be performed by either LRMC Refractive Surgeons or Optometrists. If you are healing appropriately, it is reasonable to return to your home duty station presuming you coordinate a postoperative week one appointment with your local MTF optometrist ahead of time. If you do not coordinate a postoperative week one appointment with an MTF Optometrist near your home duty station, you must return to LRMC the week after surgery for your second postoperative appointment. Typically, the third postoperative appointment after LASIK is performed by your local MTF Optometrist around the one-month mark after surgery. If there are any issues with healing, patients may need to travel to LRMC to see one of the surgeons again (Some Local MTF Optometry clinics may not be able to support your care. Check with them first.)
 
Patients undergoing PRK typically need their first appointment around day 5-7 after surgery. This and future visits can be performed by either LRMC Refractive Surgeons or your local Optometrists. If this appointment can be coordinated with an MTF optometrist close to your home duty station, patients may leave the KMC area immediately after PRK has been completed. However, if you do not coordinate a postoperative week one appointment with an MTF optometrist near your home duty station, you must return to the LRMC Refractive Surgery Clinic for your first postoperative appointment. Typically, the second postoperative appointment after PRK is performed by your local MTF optometrist around the one-month mark after surgery. If there are any issues with healing, patients may need to travel to LRMC to see one of the surgeons again (some local MTF optometry clinics may not be able to support your care. Check with them first.).

Q: How long should I expect to be non-deployable?

A: Air Force - non-deployable for at least one month for LASIK and up to 4 months for PRK; Army, Navy, Marines - non-deployable for at least 3 months.

Q: How much active duty service must I have left to still be able to get refractive surgery?

A: Army - 6 months; AF- 6 months; Navy - 12 months; Marines - 12 months; Reservists on Active Duty - 12 months from the DATE OF SURGERY

Q: How long is the commander's authorization good for?

A: 6 months. The day of actual laser treatment must be less than or equal to 6 months from the date the commander authorizes the surgery.

 

Lasik and PRK Surgery at LRMC

Refractive Eye Surgery Program at LRMC

1. Download, complete, and sign digitally (commander's signature is only valid for six months): DHA FORM 237, REQUEST FOR REFRACTIVE SURGERY CONSULTATION

              (If you get a message saying to "PLEASE WAIT" while attempting to open this form as a pdf in a browser and the form does not open, please download the file locally and open it either in Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat.)

2. Obtain appointment to determine candidacy with your local optometrist and email completed forms to that local optometry clinic. 
3. Have your commander sign the form (commander's signature is only valid for six months). 
4. Once you have completed your packet (SECTION 1 by patient, SECTION 2 by commander, and SECTION III by referring optometrist) please email it to: dha.landstuhl.clinic-support.mbx.lrmc-wresp@health.mil.  This will initiate the refractive surgery process.  Please conduct further communication through this email when possible. 

Air Force aviators/flyers MUST obtain a refractive application through an Air Force optometry clinic.  Aviators/Flyers are NOT authorized to use the LRMC WRESP application. 

Please email dha.landstuhl.clinic-support.mbx.lrmc-wresp@health.mil the following:
1.) PERMISSION TO PROCEED
2) COMMANDERS AUTHORIZATION FORM
3) USAF REFRACTIVE SURGERY APPLICATION – Aviation & Aviation-Related Special Duty. 

This will initiate your refractive surgery at LRMC.