More than three thousand Iowa soldiers are getting ready to be deployed later this year. And, eye surgeons across the state want to help. The Iowa Academy of Ophthalmology launched a new statewide program called "Sight for Soldiers."
Iowa National Guard Specialist Mitchell Froehle is getting his eyesight back. He says, "I can read charts and street signs and everything else. It's amazing."
He had LASIK Eye Surgery at Wolfe Eye Clinic in West Des Moines last week. He'll be deployed to Afghanistan later this year, and he says he doesn't want to have to worry about wearing his frames. He says, "Not having the fear that if my glasses get scratched or I drop them, say we are in the middle of a firefight or in a situation I have to see."
He's already served a tour of duty in Iraq, and says that's why he signed up for the "Sight for Soldiers" program. Eye surgeons across the state will give soldiers headed to Iraq or Afghanistan a discount on laser corrected eye surgery. Dr. James Davison with Wolfe Eye Clinic says, "It's such a great science, it's such a good technique. It works so well, to go over and use your glasses, what if you lose your glasses, you'd really be compromised."
All eye surgeons in the state are participating. Wolfe Eye Clinic is cutting 25% off the surgery that normally costs $4,300 for both eyes. Dr. Davison says, "And we'd like to do even more, but the cost of doing the surgery, you have to have the building you have to have the staff, you have to have the lasers, the facility fees."
Soldiers need to have the surgery done by April 30th. That's for healing time. Dr. Davison says, "You get your maximum vision back at about three months. That's when everything is totally stable and it's nice to have a three month period before you ship out."
Froehle says he's glad he got the surgery. It's one less thing he has to worry about while serving the country.
Even with the discount, many soldiers won't be able to afford the procedure. The Iowa Academy of Ophthalmology is collecting contributions to help offset soldier's out of pocket costs.
Iowa National Guard Specialist Mitchell Froehle is getting his eyesight back. He says, "I can read charts and street signs and everything else. It's amazing."
He had LASIK Eye Surgery at Wolfe Eye Clinic in West Des Moines last week. He'll be deployed to Afghanistan later this year, and he says he doesn't want to have to worry about wearing his frames. He says, "Not having the fear that if my glasses get scratched or I drop them, say we are in the middle of a firefight or in a situation I have to see."
He's already served a tour of duty in Iraq, and says that's why he signed up for the "Sight for Soldiers" program. Eye surgeons across the state will give soldiers headed to Iraq or Afghanistan a discount on laser corrected eye surgery. Dr. James Davison with Wolfe Eye Clinic says, "It's such a great science, it's such a good technique. It works so well, to go over and use your glasses, what if you lose your glasses, you'd really be compromised."
All eye surgeons in the state are participating. Wolfe Eye Clinic is cutting 25% off the surgery that normally costs $4,300 for both eyes. Dr. Davison says, "And we'd like to do even more, but the cost of doing the surgery, you have to have the building you have to have the staff, you have to have the lasers, the facility fees."
Soldiers need to have the surgery done by April 30th. That's for healing time. Dr. Davison says, "You get your maximum vision back at about three months. That's when everything is totally stable and it's nice to have a three month period before you ship out."
Froehle says he's glad he got the surgery. It's one less thing he has to worry about while serving the country.
Even with the discount, many soldiers won't be able to afford the procedure. The Iowa Academy of Ophthalmology is collecting contributions to help offset soldier's out of pocket costs.
