Visual Fatigue Factors Associated with Night-Vision Training Among Military Pilots

Accommodative dysfunction is one of the factors leading to asthenopia. By analyzing the changes of visual function and visual quality before and after wearing night-vision equipment, this study explored the factors influencing visual fatigue in military pilots during night-vision training, so as to provide a basis for alleviating visual fatigue in night-vision environments and provide help for targeted optimization of training programs.

This research recorded the basic data of 20 military pilots who participated in night-vision training. These military pilots underwent night-vision training with night-vision equipment. A questionnaire (supplemental Appendix A, found in the online version of this article) was used to record the relevant information of visual function before and after training. SPSS25.0 statistical software was used for data analysis.

The sample consisted of 20 male military pilots with an average age of 32.8 yr (32.8 ± 5.03). Of the 40 eyes, 15 (37.5%) showed some degree of myopia regulation, although there was no significant difference in refractive indexes such as refractive type, spherical equivalent, or spherical equivalent difference after training. There was a significant difference in the interpupillary distance before and after training, and the difference was statistically significant only in the group aged 35 yr or older.

Military pilots undergoing night-vision training experience varying degrees of visual strain. In this study, subjects tended to have reduced interpupillary distance after training. Also, those aged under 35 yr were more likely to have regulation-related visual fatigue, while those aged 35 yr or older were more likely to have convergence-related visual fatigue. Wang H, Zhao Y-Y, Wu T-Y, Wang X, Zhao C-F, Lu C, Zhang M, Liu Y. Visual fatigue factors associated with night-vision training among military pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2025; 96(12):1050-1055.