[Evaluating vision after photorefractive keratectomy within the scope of legal police service requirement 300].
BACKGROUND
The Polizeidienstvorschrift (PDV) 300 is a regulation which prescribes visual requirements for applicants to the German Police Service. Among other demands, uncorrected visual acuity (VA) of both eyes must be at least 0.5 before age 18 and at least 0.3 after age 21. The spherical equivalent of spectacle correction is ordained to fall into the range between -2.0 and +3.0 dpt. To date, recommendations for the assessment of excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) with a view to Police Service applicants are still lacking.


METHODS
Two applicants with myopic astigmatism were treated by PRK in order to meet the refractive requirements for entering the German Police Service. The first patient was judged fit for service two weeks after PRK was performed on his right eye. At this time uncorrected VA was 1.0 VA under glare conditions and contrast sensitivity had not been tested. The second patient had a stable postoperative refraction with an uncorrected VA of 1.0 in both eyes at six months postoperatively. VA under glare conditions and contrast sensitivity were normal. However, the medical service of the police authority demanded an additional follow-up of six months before judging this applicant fit for service.


CONCLUSIONS
Before excimer laser PRK is performed in myopic police service applicants, a careful examination should rule out disorders of the visual system which are not related to the refractive error and may preclude admission into the police service. After PRK in this group of persons, a postoperative standard follow-up of at least six months should be demanded. Since fitness for night driving, self-defence ability and good orientation under difficult visual conditions are mandatory for police officers, any ophthalmologic certificate should make definite statements about glare and contrast sensitivity.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000601:surgery*; D004608:Eligibility Determination / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D016495:Police; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation
Zur Beurteilung des Sehvermögens nach photorefraktiver Keratektomie im Rahmen der Polizeidienstvorschrift 300.