title: Assessment of an Alternative Army Aircrew Eyewear.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Currently, Army aircrews needing refractive correction are issued the HGU-4/P aviator spectacles. However, a recently published survey found dissatisfaction with the current spectacle frame. The Aircrew Flight Frame (AFF) has been used by the Air Force for over 14 yr, with the AFF-OP (Operational) style used the longest. The purpose of this study was to evaluate AFF-OP performance and compatibility among U.S. Army aircrew under operational conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  At 1-, 6-, and 12-wk intervals, 73 Army aircrew members wore the AFF-OP eyewear and completed a Likert scale survey. There were 14 outcome measures surveyed, with the main outcome measure being frame preference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The AFF-OP was preferred significantly more than the HGU-4/P spectacle. Overall, 94% of aircrew responses preferred the AFF-OP and the three highest subjective reasons for AFF-OP preference were: 1) comfort around the ears without helmet or headset; 2) comfort around the ears with helmet or headset; and 3) the effect on ear cup seal. There were no statistically significant differences in responses over the three surveyed time intervals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Army aviation aircrew preferred the AFF-OP over the current HGU-4/P spectacles. Two of the top three highest subjective reasons for AFF-OP preference coincided with two of the top three operational eyewear problems reported in the recently published survey. If Army aircrew do not wear their issued eyewear, they may purchase their own frame "out of pocket." However, this can lead to use of a frame that has not been tested for compatibility and may compromise performance of aircrew life support equipment.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory, Fort Rucker, AL, USA.
authors.forename: David V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Gina M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Jurek
authors.forename: José E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Capó-Aponte
authors.forename: Daniel W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Riggs
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ramiccio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D005139:Eyeglasses; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D057240:Patient Preference; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*