Follow-up study on vision health readiness in the military

A retrospective study reviewed medical records of military personnel who had participated in a vision readiness study the previous year. The review evaluated (1) the number of personnel who returned for an eye examination (as recommended), (2) the number of dilated eye examinations, (3) the number of optical devices ordered, (4) the number of patients requiring continuing treatment, (5) the types of eye disease in personnel who were classified as nondeployable in the original study, and (6) the relationship between patient vision complaints and the need for spectacles. Analyses revealed 44% of military personnel have never had a comprehensive eye examination. Of these personnel who never had an eye examination, 15% to 26% could improve their vision with spectacles. Finally, even though having an eye examination is important, whether or not the individual has had a comprehensive eye examination should not be a significant criterion for deployment.