United States Department of Transportation
i
Contact Lens Use in the Civil Airman Population
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2002-05-01
[PDF-387.43 KB]
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Edition:Final Report
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Abstract:Since 1976, the use of contact lenses by civilian pilots has been permitted to correct distant vision for obtaining a Federal Aviation Administration (FASS) aeromedical certificate. Although contact lens technology has advanced dramatically in recent years, the aviation environment may still have adverse effects on contact lens performance in some flight situations. This study examined the civil airman population's experience with contact lenses use for a 30-year period (1967-1997). The information will help guide future medical certification decisions, policy revisions and education safety programs for aeromedical and flight crew personnel. The FAA's Aerospace Medical Certification Division provided population totals for 1967-1997 of airmen who carried a pathology code for contact lens use or orthokeratology. These data were stratified by class of medical certificate and age. Prevalence rates were calculated using the population frequencies from the Annual Certification Statistical Handbook. A search of the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA databases was performed to determine if contact lens use had contributed to any aviation accidents or incidents. Results showed that the prevalence of contact lens use grew faster during the study period for first-class medical certificate holders and airmen 40 years of age or older. The frequency of airmen with orthokeratology increased by 23 times in a 10-year period. Reports from five aviation accidents and one incident suggested that contact lens use was a contributing factor in the mishaps. Professional pilots and older airmen are more inclined to use contact lenses to satisfy the aeromedical vision standards. Contact lenses can be a liability in some flight situations but have performed well for the majority of aviators. The increasing use of contact lenses by airmen and the rapid changes in contact lens technology warrant monitoring to ensure continuing safe use in the aviation environment.
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