Currently, waivers are not being approved. If patients have a less than desirable outcome, they either have to live with the results or get a corneal transplant. Because this is an elective procedure, the military medical system will not pay for the corneal transplant or any associated evaluation or rehabilitation of the cornea. The Navy is investigating the use of refractive surgeries as a mission-enhancing tool for their Special Forces. The military services are awaiting the results of the study, which will not be released for several years.
Refractive surgeries are safe and very effective.
The vast majority of patients have excellent outcomes.