The Indian Army and Air Force value vision above all else, whether for eyes or dreams. Any defect found in vision can ruin your career in the armed forces. Many candidates have weak eyesight due to continuous hard work. These candidates may find it a little challenging to join the Indian Armed Forces in such a circumstance.
Have vision issues but want to become a pilot in the Indian Air Force? Need not lose heart, for you may be eligible to command the force’s helicopters or transport planes.
But is it possible to improve your vision with surgery? And whether this standard is valid in the Indian Air Force or not. This article lets you know about LASIK surgery and its validation in the Indian Air Force.
What is LASIK?
LASIK surgery is used to treat vision loss in the eyes. This surgery is commonly known as laser eye surgery or laser eye correction. Sufferers or candidates receive this treatment through myopia, hypermetropia, farsightedness, etc. Refractive surgery is the term used to describe this procedure. Individuals or candidates who want to get rid of glasses or lenses can get this LASIK surgery done. According to the ophthalmologist, this surgery gives the eye’s cornea a proper shape. The laser is the primary tool that shapes the cornea and improves its refractive power, which improves vision.
Is LASIK successful?
New advancements are witnessed in the modern world with development in science and technology. LASIK, a fantastic technique to improve refractive power, was a significant achievement in the medical field. Before, it was believed that LASIK surgery did not improve the vision of the eyes. Different surveys were conducted, and in 2006 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) collected a lot of evidence in the context of LASIK surgery. After inspection, the result came that this is very effective and safe for correcting refractive eye errors.
The level of results LASIK shows on the defects the cornea has. Candidates or people suffering from a thin cornea or high myopia should not get LASIK surgery.
Is LASIK valid in the Indian Air Force?
Beginning this year, the IAF has relaxed selection rules, after which candidates with poor vision can fly helicopters and transport planes after corrective surgery like LASIK and Radial Keratotomy.
To join the Indian Air Force, if a candidate has used laser surgery to improve their eyesight, they are considered for selection. The criteria that are applied for vision in the Indian Air Force are:
- Only one laser eye correction is allowed by the Air Force.
- To become a pilot (fighter), you must have excellent eyesight to perceive and react precisely. Therefore, the candidate must have a vision 20/70 or better.
- Vision in each eye must be no worse than 20/200 for a candidate to be accepted for Navigator Training.
- If your eyesight is 6/6 after wearing spectacles, you can join the technical branch ground staff officers.
- The candidates with vision correction must adhere to fundamental post-surgery standards established by the IAF.
- The IAF’s condition comprises completion of one year of vision-correction surgery at the time of application, post-surgery eyeball length of not more than 25.5 mm, and a cornea thickness of not less than 450 microns.
According to Colonel JKS Parihar, a candidate is taken into consideration for flying a helicopter or a fixed-wing aircraft after completing one year since having undergone LASIK surgery (to correct myopia and hypermetropia) and other requirements.
This relaxation is applicable for ”Pilots flying transport aircraft and helicopters; all officers in the technical field; aeronautical engineers; basic Air Staff, Non-Technical staff, Ground Duties Officers, Security officers and Meteorology officers and medical field officers of the IAF. But the relaxation will not be applicable at the entry-level at the National Defence Academy”.
The IAF refused candidates if they had undergone these procedures to improve their vision. But now, the rules are relaxed for the physical requirement regarding the vision for all service officers at the graduate entry level. If they have undergone eye correction surgery but meet the basic post-surgery requirements, they are eligible for the Indian Air Force. It is a golden opportunity for those with weak eyesight who still wish to pursue their career in the Indian Air Force.
