Health Services

Warfighter Refractive Eye Surgery Program

Mission

The Warfighter Refractive Eye Surgery Program (WRESP) was implemented to provide refractive eye surgery for active duty service members. It is designed to decrease dependence on glasses or contact lenses and increase combat effectiveness. The Fort Liberty WRESP was the first refractive surgery program in the Army, opening in May 2000. As of 2017, more than 50,000 refractive surgeries have been performed at Womack.

Vision

To be the national leader in Warfighter refractive eye surgery using cutting edge technology and delivering an unsurpassed patient experience.

Guidelines and Program Requirements

All active duty, activated National Guard, and Reserve service members (Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines) are eligible for refractive surgery under the WRESP program if they meet the following criteria:

Approval by commanding officer
No adverse personnel actions pending
At least six months remaining on active duty from date of surgery
Eye exam within the past 24 months (Optometry)

If You Meet Requirements

Download the Refractive Eye Surgery Patient Application Packet.

Fill out packet and make sure it is legible, if filling out by hand.
Email your completed packet to the WRESP Clinic

Contact Lens Users

You will need to be out of contact lenses a minimum of 14 days prior to preoperative appointment.
Even a few hours of contact lens use will affect your surgical results and preoperative testing.

What You Should Expect Next

Please note that we currently have a wait time of 2-3 months for surgery.

A member of our staff will review your packet.
If guidelines are met then our front desk will contact you to schedule your preoperative appointment testing. You will be contacted in order of receipt. You may wish to have a driver with you that day as you will have your eyes dilated.
Expect the preoperative appointment to take approximately 2-3 hours.

How Surgery Affects Schooling and Assignments

Service members of every military occupational specialty can receive LASIK or PRK surgery. Having had refractive surgery does NOT necessarily disqualify a service member from attending special military schools (jump, Ranger, Special Forces, HALO, etc.); the individual would have to obtain a waiver. The refractive surgery clinic staff can provide more information.

Commander authority is mandatory to receive the surgery. Upon completion of the surgery, the service member will be given five to seven days of convalescent leave and will have a 30-day profile (no Army Physical Fitness Test can be administered and the service member will not be permitted to participate in any field exercises during this time frame). The service member will not be approved for most schools (Ranger School, Airborne School, Air Assault) for 90 days after surgery. The service member will typically not be deployable for 30-90 days after surgery.

Contact Us

Phone

910-907-6423

Hours

Monday - Friday
7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Email

usarmy.liberty.medcom-wamc.mbx.dcss-ss-refractive-eye@health.mil

Location

Ophthalmology Services
5 South
2817 Rock Merritt Avenue
Fort Liberty, NC 28310

Refractive Services Provided
- LASER ASSISTED IN-SITU KERATOMILEUSIS (LASIK)
  The Cornea
  
  The cornea is the clear tissue at the front of your eye that you see through - where you put your contact lens.
  
  LASIK and PRK surgery are performed on the cornea, the clear windshield on the front of your eye.
  
  It has two layers for our purposes:
  - The first layer is called the epithelium, or the skin.
  - The second layer underneath the epithelium is the stroma, or the meat of the tissue, where the laser actually does its work.
  For lasting correction, the laser needs to be applied to the stroma.
  
  Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)
  
  LASIK surgery is also performed on the cornea. The difference is rather than removing the epithelium, the surgeon moves it out of the way.
  
  The flap is created with the laser platform. It's cut through the epithelium and a small degree of the stroma. It has a hinge point to allow the surgeon to lift up the flap.
  
  When the flap is lifted, the stroma is exposed.
  
  The laser then works to reshape the stroma in the exact manner that is described in PRK surgery.
  
  The LASIK flap is then re-positioned. After surgery your surgeon will examine your eyes to make sure there is no debris under the flap and that the flap is well centered. It will heal into position over several hours to a few days.
- Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)
  The Cornea
  
  The cornea is the clear tissue at the front of your eye that you see through - where you put your contact lens.
  
  LASIK and PRK surgery are performed on the cornea, the clear windshield on the front of your eye.
  
  It has two layers for our purposes:
  - The first layer is called the epithelium, or the skin.
  - The second layer underneath the epithelium is the stroma, or the meat of the tissue, where the laser actually does its work.
  For lasting correction, the laser needs to be applied to the stroma.
  
  Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)
  
  In PRK surgery the skin, or epithelium, is removed with a circular brush.
  
  Removing the epithelium exposes the stroma, where the laser removes tissue to reshape the surface of the eye; lasering in your glasses prescription.
  
  The removal of the epithelium exposes nerve endings in the cornea which are very sensitive. In order to reduce post-operative discomfort, a bandage contact lens is placed on the eye.
  
  Five to seven days after surgery the bandage contact lens is removed. Your cornea is then a little thinner, but otherwise looks like you never had surgery.
- Implantable collamer lens (ICL) Surgery