Vision impairment and corrective considerations of civil airmen

Civil aviation is a major commercial and technological industry in the United States. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for the regulation and promotion of aviation safety in the National Airspace System. To guide FAA policy changes and educational programs for aviation personnel about vision impairment and the use of corrective ophthalmic devices, the demographics of the civil airman population were reviewed.

Demographic data from 1971-1991 were extracted from FAA publications and databases.

Approximately 48 percent of the civil airman population is equal to or older than 40 years of age (average age = 39.8 years). Many of these aviators are becoming presbyopic and will need corrective devices for near and intermediate vision. In fact, there has been approximately a 12 percent increase in the number of aviators with near vision restrictions during the past decade. Ophthalmic considerations for prescribing and dispensing eyewear for civil aviators are discussed.

The correction of near and intermediate vision conditions for older pilots will be a major challenge for eye care practitioners in the next decade. Knowledge of the unique vision and environmental requirements of the civilian airman can assist clinicians in suggesting alternative vision corrective devices better suited for a particular aviation activity.