Does anyone know the CF's stance on the following type of laser refractive surgery:
- Small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) [originally called Femtosecond lenticule extraction (FLEx)]?
It's a refractive surgery available for those with either thin corneas and/or higher prescriptions (ones that can't be fully corrected by LASIK or PRK).
Recommended Procedures
6. Acceptable refractive surgery procedures for serving CF pilots are as follows: Wavefront
Guided (WFG) Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), WFG surface ablation procedures such as
LASEK and Epi-LASIK and WFG Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK).
The best options for creating the flap should be discussed with the surgeon, including current
generation mechanical keratome or femtosecond laser.
7. Conventional (non WFG) refractive surgery and LASIK using a mechanical keratome are
not recommended for pilots but may be acceptable for non-pilot aircrew.
Non-Approved Procedures
8. Radial Keratotomy (RK) is not approved for entry to, or transfer within, the CF.
9. Corneal reshaping with contact lenses is not a form of refractive surgery, however it has
been addressed in this directive as it may be offered as an alternative to refractive surgery.
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) and corneal refractive therapy (CRT) are procedures using special
rigid gas permeable contact lenses to reshape the cornea for the temporary reduction of myopia.
Ortho-K and CRT are not acceptable procedures for any CF Aircrew.
10. All other refractive procedures including Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segments (ICRS),
thermal keratotomy and incisional astigmatic keratotomy are not acceptable procedures for any
CF Aircrew.
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Hope that helps but I don't see SMILE or FLEX listed.
If still unsure I'd check with a medical technician