Скачать или смотреть Corrective laser eye surgery has been used to improve the eye sight of US military personnel for yea

(17 Apr 2007) HEADLINE: U.S. Military eyes LASIK surgery for pilots
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CAPTION: Corrective laser eye surgery has been used to improve the eye sight of US military personnel for years. But now, with improved technology it is also being used for front line military pilots. (April 17)
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Landing a fighter jet takes more than just good flight skills. It also requires good eyesight.

For years, the US military has been using LASIK vision correction to help with battlefield marksmanship. But when it came to military pilots, LASIK was grounded.

Dr. Steve Schallhorn - the man who spearheaded the military's LASIK program - is now being credited with advancing the surgery to the point where it is safe for aviators.

SOT Dr. Robert Maloney, Cornea and LASIK specialist at Maloney Vision Institute :
"WHEN HE STARTED TEN YEARS AGO, USING VISION CORRECTION SURGERY FOR THE MILITARY, ALL OF THE SENIOR PEOPLE WERE OPPOSED TO WHAT HE WAS DOING BECAUSE THEY SAID, 'IT'S NOT SAFE, WHAT IF WE CAUSE PROBLEMS, WHAT IF THESE PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR NIGHT VISION OR WE HAVE COMPLICATIONS, NO WAY.' AND HE FOUGHT AND FOUGHT AND FOUGHT AND HE GOT KEY ALLIES AND HE INTRODUCED THIS TO THE MILITARY AND IT'S COMPLETELY REVOLUTIONISED THE EYES OF MILITARY WAR FIGHTERS. THEY NOW CAN SEE BETTER AND FIGHT BETTER AND ARE BETTER SOLDIERS THAN THEY'VE EVER BEEN."

Schallhorn says the effects of the surgery have been an overwhelming success.

Dr. Steve Schallhorn, Founder U.S. Navy Refractive Surgery program:
"WE FOUND THAT LASER VISION CORRECTION SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED MARKSMANSHIP IN 95% OF ALL THE PATIENTS WE TREATED. WE ALSO DID A LARGE STUDY LOOKING AT AVIATORS. WE TREATED MORE THAN 700 AVIATORS LOOKING AT THE ISSUES WITH THEM. THE SURGERY WAS VERY EFFECTIVE. OVER 95% OF THE AVIATORS WE TREATED IN THAT STUDY SAID IT HELPED THEIR ABILITY TO FLY."

Captain Nicolas Hight says life without glasses is much easier since he underwent the surgery.

Captain Nicolas Hight, Miramar Naval Air station :
"GLASSES ARE MUCH OF A PAIN TO DEPLOY WITH. YOU HAVE TO HAVE SPECIAL INSERTS FOR YOUR GAS MASKS. YOU HAVE TO HAVE LESS THAN FLATTERING FRAMES. THEY'RE TOUGH AND DURABLE BUT NOT VERY PRACTICAL SO JUST BEING ABLE TO POTENTIALLY HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DEPLOY WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT GLASSES; LOSING THEM, BREAKING THEM, GETTING THEM SCRATCHED, VERY DIFFICULT TO REPLACE ONCE YOU'RE IN IRAQ."

Shallhorn, now retired from the military, is in the process of setting up a private LASIK practice in California.

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