It is good to see clearly.

Over the past few decades, advancements in refractive eye surgery have been made due to developments of refined techniques and the emergence of laser vision surgery.

At the center of this progress is the Excimer laser, a piece of technology that allows ophthalmologists to remove very precise amounts of tissue from the eye's surface in order to improve the patient's vision.

In 2001, the United States Army Medical Command Warfighter Refractive Eye Surgery program (WRESP) began to establish laser eye centers in military treatment facilities.

Currently, there are 14 centers Army wide.

The logic behind the program is based on the proven efficacy of refractive surgery and how it allows Soldiers in adverse conditions to perform their duties without the dependence on corrective lenses.

"It was a visionary program," Col. (Dr.) Mark Torres, chief of the refractive surgery center at the Madigan Healthcare System, said.

"In terms of numbers and results, we've exceeded all expectations in terms of numbers and results; we exceed the civilian standard," Torres added.

Refractive surgery breaks down into two major types - LASIK (Laser In Situ Keratomileusis) and PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy).

The main difference between the two procedures is that LASIK correction is performed under the corneal flap, where the Excimer laser is used to cut a flap into the cornea.  From there, the laser sends pulses into the cornea, reshaping it and correcting vision.

On the other hand, PRK is performed on the surface of the cornea. Specifically, it reshapes the surface of the cornea directly without a flap. In this type of surgery, less than 10 percent of the cornea is affected and the deeper layers remain intact.  As a result, PRK is friendlier to the cornea by preserving more corneal tissue.

"The results are the same," Dr. Angela Triebold said.  "We do both procedures."

The center performs more than 1,000 PRK and LASIK procedures annually on active duty Servicemembers in the Joint Base Lewis-McChord area.

Both Torres and Triebold emphasized that the program is for active duty Servicemembers only.

"We're here to help all units and to let them know what is available," Yvonne Knight, a registered nurse with the center, said. "We encourage Soldiers to call; we can help."

For more information, visit www.mamc.amedd.army.mil/ophthalmology/refractive or call (253) 968-5516.