Night firing range performance following photorefractive keratectomy and laser in situ keratomileusis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of laser refractive surgery on night weapons firing.


METHODS
Firing range performance was measured at baseline and postoperatively following photorefractive keratectomy and laser in situ keratomileusis. Subjects fired the M-16A2 rifle with night vision goggles (NVG) at starlight, and with iron sight (simulated dusk). Scores, before and after surgery, were compared for both conditions.


RESULTS
No subject was able to acquire the target using iron sight without correction before surgery. After surgery, the scores without correction (95.9 +/- 4.7) matched the preoperative scores with correction (94.3 +/- 4.0; p = 0.324). Uncorrected NVG scores after surgery (96.4 +/- 3.1) exceeded the corrected scores before surgery (91.4 +/- 10.2), but this trend was not statistically significant (p = 0.063).


CONCLUSIONS
Night weapon firing with both the iron sight and the NVG sight improved after surgery. This study supports the operational benefits of refractive surgery in the military.
Bower
Kraig S
KS
Center for Refractive Surgery, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
Burka
Jenna M
JM
Subramanian
Prem S
PS
Stutzman
Richard D
RD
Mines
Michael J
MJ
Rabin
Jeff C
JC
D000328:Adult; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000601:surgery*; D003624:Darkness; D005389:Firearms; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology