LRMC Eye Center Combines Vision Care, Refractive Surgery to Support Readiness
By integrating routine eye examinations, treatment for eye conditions and injuries and advanced refractive surgery, the center helps patients maintain their vision and supports the readiness of service member across U.S. European, African and Central Command areas of responsibility.
The center’s integrated approach allows patients to receive routine vision care and, when needed, specialized ophthalmological treatment at the same facility. A routine appointment can lead to further evaluation by ophthalmology if providers identify a complex condition or injury.
Staff Sgt. Bradley Geldermann, noncommission officer in charge of the optometry and ophthalmology clinics at LRMC, said by integrating routine visual health with highly specialized micro-surgery capabilities, the clinic guarantees that service members, and retirees have access to comprehensive vision care overseas.
The clinic also operates the Warfighter Refractive Eye Surgery Program, an elective program that provides laser vision correction to eligible service members. The program is designed to reduce reliance on eyeglasses and contact lenses, which can present challenges in operational environments.
“The program isn't just about convenience; it is a direct upgrade to a Soldier's tactical readiness,” Geldermann said. “By permanently correcting our warfighters' vision, we are giving them a safer, sharper, and far more lethal edge on the battlefield.”
The program offers laser-assisted in in situ keratomileusis, commonly known as LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy, or PRK. Both procedures correct refractive errors, reducing or eliminating the need for corrective lenses for eligible patients.
The center is also expanding its treatment options to include implantable Collamer lens surgery, or ICL according to Geldermann. The procedure involves placing a lens inside the eye to correct certain vision problems, including nearsightedness and astigmatism.
“We are excited to expand our treatment options by offering Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) surgery,” Geldermann said. “It’s a tiny, permanent contact lens that we surgically place inside your eye to correct nearsightedness and astigmatism.”
Unlike LASIK and PRK which reshape the cornea using a laser, ICL surgery adds a lens inside the eye without removing corneal tissue. It may be an option for some patients who are not suitable candidates for laser vision correction, including some patients with thin corneas.
As with any surgical procedure, ICL surgery carries potential risks. These may include temporary halos or glare around lights, increased pressure inside the eye and, rarely infection or other complications. Patients must undergo an evaluation to determine whether the procedure is appropriate for them.
The center performs approximately 12 to 15 refractive surgeries per week, totaling about 600 procedures annually, Geldermann said.
"It’s never just about the numbers,” Geldermann said. “Seeing the immediate difference in a patient’s quality of life after a successful procedure is what truly drives our team every day."
For the Eye Center team, the mission extends beyond the operating room. By helping patients recover their vision and reducing dependence on corrective lenses when medically appropriate, the team supports quality of life and helps eligible service members meet the demands of military service.
"At the end of the day, our work isn't just about correcting vision; it’s about giving people their lives back," Geldermann said. "When a service member sits up after surgery and realizes they can see the clock on the wall clearly for the first time in years, that is the moment everything we do makes perfect sense."
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