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Visual function at altitude under night vision assisted conditions.
Diego Vecchi1, Fabio Morgagni1, Anton G Guadagno1
1Aerospace Medicine Department, Experimental Flight Centre, Italian Air Force Logistic Command, Aeroporto di Pratica di Mare, Pomezia, Italy.
Mild hypoxia significantly impairs visual acuity in aviators, even when using night vision devices (NVDs). This visual degradation affects performance in low-light aviation scenarios.
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Area of Science:
- Aviation physiology
- Ophthalmology
- Human factors in aerospace
Background:
- Mild hypoxia negatively impacts visual function, reducing visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, particularly in low light.
- These effects are critical for aviators using night vision devices (NVDs) which already present image quality limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of mild hypoxia on visual acuity and contrast sensitivity in healthy male aviators using NVDs.
- To assess the impact of simulated high altitude on visual performance relevant to flight operations.
Main Methods:
- 16 healthy male aviators were exposed to a simulated altitude of 12,500 ft in a hypobaric chamber.
- Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were measured under normoxic and hypoxic conditions, both in normal and low light, while wearing NVDs.
Main Results:
- Visual acuity significantly decreased under both normal and low light conditions during hypoxia compared to normoxia.
- No significant changes in contrast sensitivity were observed.
- No significant association was found between blood oxygen saturation and visual acuity.
Conclusions:
- Mild hypoxia demonstrably affects visual acuity in the photopic and high mesopic ranges, impacting NVD-aided vision.
- Retinal cell sensitivity to hypoxia may contribute to visual acuity reduction.
- Contrast sensitivity may be maintained under NVDs due to the devices' gain characteristics.

