title: Corrective lens use and refractive error among United States Air Force aircrew.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, 2507 Kennedy Circle, Brooks City-Base, TX 78234, USA.
authors.forename: Steve T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Douglas J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Ivan
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gooch
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001359:Aviation; D005139:Eyeglasses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014792:Visual Acuity