I just had PRK eye surgery done, here are the requirements from the message I went off of.
R 291404Z JAN 04 ZUI ASN-A00029000091 ZYB
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//G-WK//
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS //N06000//
ALCOAST 033/04
COMDTNOTE 6000
SUBJ: PHOTOREFRACTIVE KERATECTOMY (PRK) IN COAST GUARD CLASS 2
AVIATION PERSONNEL AND LANDING SIGNAL OFFICERS (LSOS)
A. MEDICAL MANUAL, COMDTINST M6000.1B
B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 191451Z JAN 01/ALCOAST 019/01
C. COAST GUARD AVIATION MEDICINE MANUAL, COMDTINST M6410.3
1. THIS ALCOAST AUTHORIZES WAIVERS FOR PRK FOR COAST GUARD CLASS 2
AVIATION PERSONNEL (FLIGHT SURGEONS AND ENLISTED AIRCREW) AND LSOS.
LASIK AND RADIAL KERATOTOMY WILL CONTINUE TO BE DISQUALIFYING,
WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF WAIVER, FOR AVIATION /LSO DUTY.
2. NON-AVIATION PERSONNEL WHO HAVE HAD PRK AND ARE APPLYING FOR
CLASS 2 AVIATION OR LSO DUTY WILL FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES SET FORTH
IN THIS ALCOAST.
3. THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES MUST BE MET TO APPLY FOR A WAIVER FOR
CLASS 2 AVIATION PERSONNEL AND LSOS WHO HAVE HAD PRK.
A. THE PRK PROCEDURE MUST BE PERFORMED AT A MILITARY TREATMENT
FACILITY. NO WAIVERS WILL BE GRANTED FOR PRK PERFORMED BY CIVILIAN
PROVIDERS.
B. MEMBERS MUST FOLLOW THE ELECTIVE SURGERY POLICY IN REF A,
CHAPTER 2-A.
C. COS/OINCS WILL ASSIGN THE APPROPRIATE PRIORITY AS PER REF B
D. SINCE PRK IS CONSIDERED AN ELECTIVE PROCEDURE ALL COSTS
(LODGING AND TRAVEL) WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MEMBER.
E. PRE-SURGICAL REFRACTIVE ERROR MUST BE IN THE RANGE OF MINUS 8
TO PLUS 6 DIOPTERS WITH NO MORE THAN 3 DIOPTERS OF CYLINDER IN
EITHER EYE.
F. IF REFRACTIVE STABILITY IS DEMONSTRATED, AS EVIDENCED BY LESS
THAN A 0.50 DIOPTER CHANGE OVER TWO SEPARATE EXAMS AT LEAST FOUR
WEEKS APART, THEN THE MEMBER CAN APPLY TO CGPC FOR A WAIVER THREE
MONTHS AFTER THE SURGERY.
G. ALL PRE-OPERATIVE, OPERATIVE AND POST-OPERATIVE MEDICAL
RECORDS MUST BE SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE WAIVER AUTHORITY.
H. THE MEMBER MUST NOT HAVE ANY VISUAL COMPLAINTS POST-
OPERATIVELY PER THE QUALITY OF VISION QUESTIONAIRE WHICH IS TO BE
INCLUDED IN THE WAIVER PACKAGE. THIS FORM CAN BE FOUND ON THE G-
WKH-1 WEB SITE AT HTTP:WWW.USCG.MIL/HQ/G-W/G-WK/WKH/PUBS/INDEX.HTM
I. POST-OPERATIVELY THE MEMBER MUST MEET ALL AVIATION VISUAL
STANDARDS IN REF A, CHAPTER 3-G AND REF B CHAPTER 1-E.
J. A QUALITY OF VISION QUESTIONAIRE AND VISUAL ACUITY CHECK IS
TO BE DONE EVERY THREE MONTHS FOR ONE YEAR AFTER THE SURGERY. THIS
INFORMATION IS TO BE NOTED IN THE MEMBERS MEDICAL RECORD AND
REVIEWED BY THE FLIGHT SURGEON.
4. COMMANDS CAN ANTICIPATE THAT A MEMBER UNDERGOING PRK WILL BE
ABSENT FROM WORK FOR 5-7 DAYS. AFTER THAT THEY MAY RESUME ALL
DUTIES EXCEPT DUTIES THAT INVOLVE FLYING. THEY MAY RESUME FLIGHT
RELATED DUTIES AFTER THEIR WAIVER HAS BEEEN APPROVED.
5. THIS CHANGE WILL BE INCORPORATED IN FUTURE CHANGES OF REF A
AND C.
6. POC: CAPT MICHAEL WIEMERS, G-WKH-1, 202-267-2073
7. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED
8. RADM PAUL HIGGINS, USPHS, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND SAFETY SENDS.
BT
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If you have any questions give me a call or shoot me an e-mail.
-Rob Baysden-
