Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 22, 2026
03:49
Evaluating Flight Performance and Eye Movement Patterns Using Virtual Reality Flight Simulator
Published on: May 19, 2023
Vision readiness at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
R S Buckingham1, A L Walker, J A Darville
1U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD 21010-5422, USA.
Military Medicine
|August 2, 2000
Summary
Military vision readiness is crucial for mission success. A study found many deploying airmen are not optically ready, despite regular eye exams, highlighting a need for greater involvement from optometry staff and commanders.
Area of Science:
- Military Medicine
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
Background:
- Vision readiness, encompassing visual acuity, optical devices, and eye health, is critical for military personnel's mission effectiveness.
- A study was conducted to assess vision readiness within a deploying fighter squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of optical readiness among deploying military personnel.
- To identify factors associated with vision readiness in a fighter squadron.
Main Methods:
- A screening of 204 personnel was performed.
- Data collected included spectacle/contact lens wear, optical readiness status, and date of last professional eye examination.
- Pearson's chi-squared test was used to analyze the association between readiness and examination timing.
Main Results:
- Out of 204 personnel, 59 wore corrective lenses. Of these, only 15 (25%) were optically ready for deployment.
- A significant majority (75%) of personnel requiring optical correction were not ready.
- No significant association was found between optical readiness and the timing of the last eye examination (p=0.66).
Conclusions:
- Despite regular eye examinations, a substantial portion of deploying airmen lack the necessary optical readiness.
- Optometry personnel, commanders, and airmen must proactively ensure vision readiness.
- Improved strategies are needed to guarantee adequate visual preparedness for military operations.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Vision
Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.
01:25Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Transmission-based precautions are for patients infected or suspected to be infected (or colonized) with organisms posing a significant risk to others. The transmission precautions include airborne and protective environment precautions.
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
01:22PPE Use in Healthcare Settings I: Donning
Donning PPE must be completed before contact with the patient. This process protects from infectious agents. The sequence and action included in each donning are critical, and the steps must be systematic to avoid exposure to pathogens. The institutional policy also needs to be followed while donning PPE. The pre-donning preparations are gathering equipment, inspecting the PPE equipment for tears, holes, or damage, removing jewelry, removing any garments below the elbows, and tying the hair...
01:11Pulse Assessment Sites
Pulse assessment sites are crucial in evaluating a patient's cardiovascular health. By assessing the pulsations of arteries at specific anatomical locations, healthcare professionals can gather valuable information about blood flow, heart rate, and peripheral circulation. Understanding these pulse assessment sites is essential for conducting comprehensive cardiovascular evaluations and monitoring patients' overall health. These sites are strategically chosen due to the accessibility and...
01:14SBAR II: Application of SBAR
SBAR is an effective communication tool used by healthcare professionals to communicate patient information accurately. SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation. For a better understanding, an example is given below.
SBAR Report from a Nurse to a Health Care Provider
S: "Hello, Dr. Smith. This is Jane, RN, from the Med Surg unit. I am calling to tell you about Ms. White in Room 210, who is experiencing increased pain and redness at her incision site. Her recent...
SBAR Report from a Nurse to a Health Care Provider
S: "Hello, Dr. Smith. This is Jane, RN, from the Med Surg unit. I am calling to tell you about Ms. White in Room 210, who is experiencing increased pain and redness at her incision site. Her recent...
01:09Preparedness and Phobias
Human fear responses to certain stimuli, such as darkness, heights, deep water, and blood, can often arise despite the absence of direct negative experiences. This phenomenon is rooted in evolutionary psychology, which posits that humans have developed a predisposition to fear stimuli that historically posed significant survival threats. This predisposition, known as preparedness, suggests that early humans who developed a fear of potentially dangerous entities, such as venomous snakes and...