Surgeons performed the 50,000th refractive surgery at San Antonio-based Joint Warfighter Refractive Surgery Center Jan. 15.
The key details to know:
1. The Joint Warfighter Refractive Surgery Center opened in 2000 at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center on Lackland Air Force Base.
2. Lt. Col. Matthew Caldwell, MD, 59th Medical Wing ophthalmology department chairman, said, "For me as an eye surgeon deployed to Afghanistan, not being reliant on glasses was a huge benefit, but for so many others who are actually out on the front lines with their lives at risk, the benefit of refractive surgery is much greater than convenience. It makes them more functional and safer."
3. Refractive surgery eliminates the need for glasses or contacts, helping patients achieve 20/40 vision or better.