Aviation accidents and incidents associated with the use of ophthalmic devices by civilian airmen.
BACKGROUND
Approximately 54% of civilian pilots rely on ophthalmic lenses to correct defective vision in order to maintain a valid airman medical certificate. This report reviews aviation accidents and incidents where the use or misuse of ophthalmic devices was considered to have been a contributing factor in the mishap.


METHODS
The NTSB's Aviation Accident/Incident Database and the FAA's Incident Data System were queried for terms related to ophthalmic devices. All reports were reviewed to determine whether an ophthalmic device was a factor in the mishap and then stratified based on the type of ophthalmic correction involved. Additionally, the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS), which allows aviation personnel to report actual or perceived safety-related problems was similarly queried and reviewed.


RESULTS
The NTSB and FAA databases included 19 mishaps with contributing factors such as lost and/or broken eyeglasses, problems with sunglasses, incompatibility with personal protective breathing equipment adaptation difficulties, or inappropriate ophthalmic prescriptions and contact lenses. Aviation personnel voluntarily submitted 26 ASRS reports describing operational problems involving ophthalmic devices that adversely affected aviation safety.


CONCLUSIONS
Ophthalmic devices used by pilots have contributed to aviation accidents and incidents. The review and reporting of these events provides important information that can be used to educate flight crewmembers, Aviation Medical Examiners, and eyecare practitioners about the potential hazards of using inappropriate ophthalmic devices. Recommendations in this report may assist pilots in avoiding similar hazardous situations and enhance aviation safety.
Nakagawara
Van B
VB
FAA-CAMI, Vision Research Team, Oklahoma City, OK 73125, USA. Van.Nakagawara@faa.gov
Montgomery
Ron W
RW
Wood
Kathryn J
KJ
D000060:Accidents, Aviation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D001359:Aviation; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005139:Eyeglasses / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006077:Government Agencies; D006801:Humans; D012449:Safety; D014186:Transportation / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce