Corrective Lens Use and Refractive Error Among United States Air Force Aircrew

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA516040&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

Corrective Lens Use and Refractive Error Among United States Air Force Aircrew

Wright, Steve T. ; Ivan, Douglas J. ; Clark, Patirck J. ; Gooch, John M. ; Thompson, William

Corrective lens use by military aviators is an important consideration in the design of head-mounted equipment. The United States Air Force (USAF) has periodically monitored lens use by aviators; however, it has been over a decade since the last study. We provide an update on the prevalence of corrective lenses and refractive error among-USAF aircrew based on eyeglass orders processed through the Spectacle-Request-Transmission-System (SRTS). Currently, 41% of active duty USAF pilots and 54% of other aircrew require corrective lenses to perform flight duties. Refractive errors are characterized by low to moderate levels of myopia with a mean spherical equivalent power of -1.01 diopters (D) for pilots and -1.68 D for others. Contact lenses, and more recently refractive surgery, reduce the number of aircrew that must rely on spectacles when flying; however, spectacle compatibility remains an important consideration in the cockpit.
From Military Medicine
EYEGLASSES, *FLIGHT CREWS, EYE DISEASES, AIR FORCE PERSONNEL

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