Vision readiness in Operation Restore Hope.
Ensuring that our forces are vision ready for their mission is essential on today's battlefield. Vision readiness considers optical readiness (appropriate correcting eyewear) and visual readiness (adequate job-required visual acuity). A study of vision readiness among deploying personnel for Operation Restore Hope in Bosnia from December 1995 to September 1997 was conducted at Fort Benning, Georgia. Of the 10,063 personnel screened, 3,554 (35.3%) were not optically ready for deployment and 406 (4.0%) were not visually ready for deployment. Analyses indicated a statistically significant difference between the active duty and reserve components in optical and visual readiness. A more effective vision readiness process should be implemented before deployment to ensure that all personnel are deployment ready. Optometry personnel, commanders, and deploying soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines must take a more active role in ensuring that our forces have the appropriate visual acuity and optical devices to deploy.
U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5422, USA.
Robert S
RS
Buckingham
Kenneth
K
Whitwell
Lee
L
Cornforth
Robyn B
RB
Lee
D003261:Contact Lenses; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010809:Physical Fitness; D015995:Prevalence; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015351:Vision Screening; D014792:Visual Acuity