To investigate postoperative state of military personnel underwent laser assisted corneal refractive surgery and the ill effects on life and train, and to discuss visual standard of recruit after laser assisted corneal refractive surgery.

Cross-sectional study. From May to December 2013, we investigated some service members underwent laser assisted corneal refractive surgery, including general information, history of refractive error, degree of myopia, time between operation and enlistment, rank of hospital carried surgery, type of surgery, postoperative recovery, present discomfort of eyes and ill effects on daily life, military training and military working.

There were 837 cases of military members underwent laser assisted corneal refractive surgery. The youngest one was only 16 years. Moderate degree of myopia was the commonest. The shortest time between operation and enlistment was no more than 1 week. Most surgery was carried in specialized ophthalmic hospital and department of ophthalmology of third-level hospital. Stroma ablation (93.1%, mainly LASIK) was the most popular type of surgery. Most of them gained good recovery and only a small part (10.4%) had some obvious complications. Some had serious impacts on daily life and military training (0.8%). The condition of eyes of most soldiers underwent refractive surgery did not conform to present standard of recruit after refractive surgery.

Most of recuits recovered well after laser assisted corneal refractive surgery, and a few of them had complaints. Visual acuity standard of recruit after laser assisted corneal refractive surgery had large differences from present situation and should be adjusted.

Refractive surgical procedures; Recruit; Visual standard; Postoperative complications