NASA Approves Laser Eye Surgery for Astronauts

For the first time in 30 years, NASA has posted a hiring notice for new astronauts seeking men and women to fly aboard spacecraft other than the shuttle. The pilots, scientists, engineers and educators that NASA recruits will train primarily for three to six month missions aboard the international space station. Vision correction to 20/20 is on the list and for the first time the space agency will consider applicants who have undergone successful refractive eye surgery.

Dr. Steve Schallhorn, Chief Medical Director at Optical Express is a former US Navy Captain who served in the US military for 30 years where he was Director of Cornea Service and Refractive Surgery at the Naval Medical Center San Diego and was also the Refractive Surgery Program Manager for the US Navy. He said, “NASA's approval is further evidence that today's LASIK exceeds all established standards of safety and effectiveness. NASA followed the Naval Aviation clinical studies closely with a particular interest in both safety and quality of vision under extreme conditions. Wavefront guided and femtosecond lasers were proven to provide excellent safety with consistent visual results of 20/20 or better. LASIK was able to withstand even the most extreme rigors of warfare and flight. All surgical procedures have risks, but with this exceptional track record, the average consumer has nothing to fear from LASIK."

Dr. Schallhorn initiated the first refractive surgery program for the US Armed Forces to study the visual recovery and performance of PRK and LASIK and he consulted with NASA during their evaluation of LASIK. This study was the key report that NASA used in evaluating LASIK for their astronaut program.

Dr. Schallhorn was also a TOPGUN Navy pilot and many of his experiences in the NAVY were used in the blockbuster movie TOPGUN, starring Tom Cruise.

NASA has recently approved LASIK surgery for their astronauts because the level of technology has been developed to an acceptable standard. The leading reason for this is the use of Advance CustomeVue and IntraLase. Both these technologies are used in every Optical Express clinic.