What does it take to give America’s soldiers the vision they need to perform at the highest level? The answer is told in the powerful new documentary, Ready, Aim, Fire: The Birth of Army Laser Vision Surgery, an inspiring look at the Warfighter Refractive Eye Surgery Program (WERSP), which transformed vision correction for thousands of service members.
Get a first look at the documentary celebrating the history of the U.S. Army’s vision correction and the surgeons who helped shape it.
Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/1li99P6hWds
The feature-length documentary will make its official debut at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Annual Meeting in October 2026. Even before its premiere, the film has received the Academy’s prestigious Best of Show award, recognizing its outstanding storytelling and educational impact.
For Envue Eye & Laser Center, this documentary is especially meaningful because it features our Medical Director, Dr. Bruce Rivers, whose groundbreaking work helped shape the future of military refractive surgery.
Dr. Bruce Rivers: A Pioneer in Military Vision Correction
Before opening Envue Eye & Laser Center, Dr. Bruce Rivers served in the United States Army as an ophthalmologist, researcher, educator, and military leader.
During his distinguished military career, Dr. Rivers achieved several historic milestones, including becoming the:
- First surgeon in the U.S. military to perform SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction)
- First military surgeon to perform corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL)
These achievements expanded access to advanced vision correction for active-duty military personnel whose careers demand exceptional visual performance.
Today, Dr. Rivers continues that legacy by providing advanced SMILE Pro eye surgery, LASIK, PRK, EVO ICL, refractive lens exchange (RLE), and premium cataract surgery at Envue Eye & Laser Center.
How Eye Surgery Changed Military Readiness
For military personnel, glasses and contact lenses can become a liability during combat training, deployments, aviation, and special operations missions.
Modern laser vision correction allows qualified service members to perform without depending on corrective eyewear, improving readiness while maintaining outstanding visual quality.
One of the greatest advancements has been SMILE Pro eye surgery, a minimally invasive laser vision correction procedure that preserves more corneal nerves than traditional LASIK and is associated with less postoperative dry eye for many patients.
As one of the military’s earliest SMILE surgeons, Dr. Rivers helped introduce this technology to service members and contributed to the advancement of refractive surgery within military medicine.
From the Battlefield to Envue Eye & Laser Center
The same commitment to innovation that benefited America’s soldiers now benefits patients throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
At Envue, patients receive care informed by decades of military research, clinical excellence, and experience with some of the world’s most demanding visual environments.
Whether you’re considering:
- SMILE Pro eye surgery
- LASIK
- PRK
- EVO ICL
- Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)
- Premium cataract surgery
Our team develops personalized treatment plans designed to help you achieve your best possible vision.
Experience Military-Level Innovation in Vision Correction
The story told in Ready, Aim, Fire: The Birth of Army Laser Vision Surgery is ultimately about innovation, dedication, and improving lives through better vision.
Dr. Bruce Rivers’ pioneering work in SMILE eye surgery and corneal collagen cross-linking continues to influence the care patients receive every day at Envue Eye & Laser Center.
As the documentary premieres at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting in October 2026, we are honored to celebrate Dr. Rivers’ contributions to military medicine and the lasting impact they continue to have on patients seeking freedom from glasses and contact lenses.
If you’re interested in learning whether SMILE Pro, LASIK, EVO ICL, or another advanced vision correction procedure is right for you, schedule a consultation with Envue Eye & Laser Center and discover how military innovation continues to improve civilian eye care.
