Laser Refractive Clinic
Clinic Location and Hours of Operation:
Tripler Army Medical Center
1 Jarrett White Rd., Tripler, HI 96859
Oceanside, 2nd Floor, C-Wing
Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Refractive Surgery Packet Submission Guidelines:
1. Refractive Surgery packets will be accepted on the designated Laser Refractive Surgery Application
Rodeo Schedule (see chart below).
2. Only packets submitted by the refractive surgery applicant will be accepted. Packets cannot be delivered
by anyone else except the applicant.
Eligibility, Criteria, and Requirements:
1. Active duty service members
including National Guard and Reservist on active duty orders – must provide copy of orders
2. Time left in service
from the date surgery is completed (i.e. must have required time left in service beginning on the date surgery occurs, not from the date packet is submitted **NO EXCEPTIONS**)
| Service |
Time left in service following surgery |
| Army |
6 Months |
| Air Force |
6 Months |
| Space Force |
6 Months |
| Air National Guard |
6 Months |
| Army National Guard |
6 Months |
| Reservist on active orders (USA, USAF) |
6 Months |
| Navy |
12 Months |
| Marine |
12 Months |
| Coast Guard |
12 Months |
| Reservist on active orders (USN, USMC, USCG) |
12 Months |
3. No adverse actions or pending medical board
4. Participants are not deployable: 30 days after LASIK or SMILE; up to 90 days after PRK
5. Must have contact lenses out and wearing current prescription glasses for 30 days prior to initial refractive
appointment
6. Must have 1 year stable vision; bring civilian eye records if last exam was not through military
7. Change of station: not within three months from date of surgery
8. Must have commander’s authorization DHA-237 form
- see Step 2 of “How to start the process”)
9. No immunizations 1 month prior & up to 3 months after surgery
10. No hormone therapy six months before initial exam or surgery
11. Females: no pregnancies, miscarriages, or nursing six months before initial exam or surgery
12. Initial appointment does not guarantee that you are a candidate for laser eye surgery
13. Special Duty Status:
- AIR FORCE:
- Flight – Must complete preoperative exam thru Hickam AFB Optometry first on AASD USAF-CRS Application (27Feb2025), then Flight Surgeon & Aviation Consultation Service approval (ACS @ Wright-Patterson) before following Tripler website instructions.
- Non-flight – DHA 237 Form (OCT 2024), (see Step 2 of "How to start the process")
- NAVY/MARINE:
- Flight Status – LASIK preferred, Flight Surgeon approval
- Pilot (Class I): NO ICL, US Navy surgeon only
- NFO/Aircrew (Class II): ICL OK, LASIK preferred
- Air Traffic Control/ UAV (Class III,IV): ICL OK, LASIK preferred
- LASIK: -11.50 à +6.00 SE; Cyl <6.00; PRK no limit
- Dive/Spec Ops/EOD/Marine Recon:
- Qualified: 1 month no special duty
- Applicant: 3 month waiting period after CRS
- Submarine Duty:
- Qualified: must be on shore duty/shipyard for at least 3 months with 30 days remaining AFTER surgery before sub ops
- Applicant: 3 month waiting period after CRS
How to start the process:Step 1: Patients are required to view the Refractive Brief (in order to view brief you will need to download file to your computer), prior to their appointment in order to be informed on the differences and pros and cons of different refractive procedures. When viewing the presentation, be sure to click the “slideshow” icon in the bottom right; the presentation will then play with audio and without the need to click through the slides. After completing the brief please fill out Laser Brief Acknowledgment form.
Step 2: Build Refractive Surgery Packet (PRINT DOUBLE SIDED)
- Commander's Authorization (DHA Form 237)
- Download and save the DHA Form 237 file to your computer; then open file to using Adobe Acrobat Reader and complete electronically.
- Commander’s Letter from an O-3 or above
- Digital (CAC) signature required.
- Only section 1 & 2 required (section 3 will be completed at TAMC Laser Center)
- Active Duty Service verification documents (ETS verification)
- Army- SRB/ERB/ORB
- USMC-BIR
- Navy-FLTMPS
- Air Force & Space Force - SURF pg.1
- USCG- Admin Data Summary / CG members Information Summary ***NO EXCEPTIONS
- Refractive Surgery Patient Questionnaire (PRINT out double sided / watermark will appear on back of each page) a. Download and save the Refractive Surgery Patient Questionnaire file to your computer; then open file to using Adobe Acrobat Reader and complete electronically.
- Copies of your last two eye exams.
- A current exam within the last 12 months and another exam at least 12 – 36 months prior to the most current exam
- Each exam must have a manifest refraction. (Prescription scripts will not be accepted)
- Laser Brief Acknowledgement (See Step 1 above)
Step 3: Applicants now have two authorized methods for submitting refractive surgery packets: digital submission via the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal or in-person submission at the monthly Application Rodeo. Packets submitted via standard email will not be accepted.
| Submission Method |
Process Details |
Requirements |
MHS GENESIS Portal (digital) MHS GENESIS Patient Portal
|
Submit through the secure messaging pool |
To: TRIPLER OPHTHALMOLOGY
Subject Line: “Refractive Surgery Packet” |
| Application Rodeo (In-person) |
Hand-carry completed packets to the clinic |
Location: Refractive Laser Clinic (2nd Floor, C-Wing)
Time: Monthly (see schedule below) |
To submit your packet digitally, please follow these steps:
- Log in to the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal.
- Navigate to the Messaging section and select "Send a Message."
- In the To field, search for and select TRIPLER OPHTHALMOLOGY.
- Ensure the Subject Line is exactly: Refractive Surgery Packet.
- Attach all required documents as a single combined PDF if possible.
Laser Refractive Surgery Application Rodeo Schedule
(Dates/times/location are subject to change without notice.) |
| Month |
Drop off dates |
Drop off time |
Location |
| June 2026 |
4 |
12 p.m. to 2 p.m. |
Refractive Laser Clinic 2nd Floor C-wing |
| July 2026 |
10 |
12 p.m. to 2 p.m. |
Refractive Laser Clinic 2nd Floor C-wing |
NOTE: YOUR PACKET WILL NOT BE REVIEWED IF MISSING ANY DOCUMENTS!
* IF YOU ARE DUE FOR YOUR ANNUAL DETAILED EYE EXAM which MUST include a manifest, please schedule an appointment with Optometry.
Optometry locations:
- Tripler Optometry 808-433-4716
- Schofield Barracks Optometry 808-433-8461, 8462, 8471
- Makalapa Optometry 808-473-1880 ext 2347
- MCBH Optometry 808-496-9597, 9596
- Hickam Optometry 808-448-6160
NOTES:
*Enhancements also submit your records from your first refractive surgery.
** You may be turned away if the packet is incomplete.
********THE OVERSEAS REFRACTIVE PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY SUSPENDED******
We accept customer satisfaction feedback through our FOCUS "For Our Customer's Ultimate Satisfaction" Cards (located throughout the hospital) and through our Interactive Customer Evaluation (ICE) site located on the Internet at http://ice.disa.mil. If you have any questions, you may contact our Customer Relations office.