The Indian Air Force is as majestic as the name sounds. The Indian Air Force was officially established on October 8, 1932. Only a few qualified people get to be part of our Indian Air Force. So the question arises people who have undergone LASIK surgery allowed in IAF?
Well, people who have problems with their vision do have a disadvantage while applying to IAF as there are certain restrictions set for the people like:
- Applicants who regularly use spectacles are not eligible for IAF.
- The minimum distant vision required is 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in another(which is correctable to 6/6, but only in the case of hypermetropia).
- The near vision required is N-5 in each eye.
- The candidate’s vision must be 20/70 or better.
- If the candidate’s eyesight is 6/6 after wearing spectacles, they can join the technical branches’ ground staff officers.
- If you apply for Navigator Training, your vision in each eye must be no worse than 20/200.
Well, it does sound a little disheartening for people who are applying for IAF and do not meet the above requirements, but sure there are also specific reasons to justify the restrictions like:
- People in the army have to operate in hostile situations, so they have to be prepared for any situation that comes their way.
- In certain climate conditions wearing lenses also becomes difficult.
- To be a fighter jet pilot, you must have brilliant eyesight to be prepared for any situation and handle them swiftly.
Thus visual defects are one of the conditions for which many applicants get rejected for flying duty. Our question still stands, and the answer is a big Yes. Recently IAF has decided to moderate its rules for candidates with vision troubles. Candidates who are aspiring to fly helicopters and transport planes and are going through vision problems can still apply just they have to go through corrective surgery like LASIK and Radial Keratotomy. The other condition after that is that they must follow specific post-surgery requirements issued by IAF.
Being in the IAF is an honor, and as the saying goes, “With great powers comes great responsibilities” as the subject here is the security of a nation, no risk can be taken. LASIK surgery has proven to be a big success for aspiring candidates for IAF as they help with vision correction,n which allows them to operate in various situations. So what is LASIK, and how does it work?
LASIK(Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is the best and most commonly performed surgery. It is a laser refractive surgery to correct vision problems, including myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. In LASIK, a special cutting laser is used to precisely change the clear dome-shaped tissue in the front of your eye to improve vision. In eyes with normal vision, the cornea refracts (bends) light precisely onto the retina at the back of the eye. But with nearsightedness(myopia) or astigmatism, the light is bent incorrectly, resulting in blurred vision. Using glasses or contact lenses helps correct the vision, but reshaping the cornea will provide the necessary refraction. LASIK surgery is used for the following vision problems:
- Nearsightedness(myopia) – When the cornea curves too sharply or the eyeball is slightly longer than average. In this case, light rays focus in front of the retina and blur the distant vision. Due to this, we can see objects that are close fairly clearly but not those that are far away.
- Farsightedness(hyperopia) – When the cornea is too flat or the eyeball is shorter than average. In this case, the light focuses behind the retina instead of it. Due to this, the near vision and sometimes the distant vision becomes blurry.
- Astigmatism – In this scenario, the cornea curves or flattens unevenly, resulting in astigmatism. This disrupts the focus of near and distant vision.
Most people who go for LASIK probably already use glasses or contact lenses. People, in general, fear the term surgery, but in the modern world, it’s safe and not painful; you just need to make specific arrangements before going to surgery, like knowing the cost and being prepared for it, arranging a ride home making sure you have someone beside you to take home from the place of surgery as you will still feel the effects of medicine after the surgery. The procedure is completed in 30 mins or less. In the surgery, firstly, you must lie back on a reclining chair, and medicine is provided to help you relax.
Some eye drops are placed in your eye to numb the eyes, and the doctor uses special instruments to put a suction ring before cutting the cornea flap; a certain pressure is felt, but it’s okay; your vision dims a little. LASIK offers improved vision without the struggles of glasses or contact lenses. Out of 10, 8 people who have undergone LASIK surgery do not need glasses anymore. LASIK is most commonly for people with no unusual vision problems or a moderate degree of refractive error.
After that also, specific criteria are placed by IAF for the candidate to be met like:
- If the candidate has gone through LASIK surgery, it must have been carried out before the age of 20 years.
- People with high refractive errors (>6D) before LASIK are still not eligible.
- The candidate must have 12 months history after the surgery with no complications.
Certain post-surgery precautions are also needed to be followed by the candidates:
- Take good care of your eyes; do not massage them or pressure them.
- Be regular with your medicine, and follow the eye drop dosage as prescribed by the doctor.
- Maintain hygiene around yourself; always wash your hands before taking the medication and using the eye drops.
- Use sunglasses when outside for a few weeks.
- Avoid swimming and knuckling of the eyes.
- Restrict showering, exercising, internet usage, reading, driving a vehicle, being outside, and eye makeup until your doctor says so.
- Be prepared for post-surgery symptoms like redness, light sensitivity, swelling up for 5-7 hours, and blurry vision; it gets better by the day.
- Use protective sunglasses for a while to avoid any contact with the eye, and take as much rest as possible.
