Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) in the Military Aviator: an Aeromedical Expose.
Abstract
Refractive surgery to visually rehabilitate refractive errors of the eye continues to evolve at a significant pace and is here to stay. The surgical manipulation of the cornea by carefully planned incisions, as in radial keratotomy, represented the first technological procedure to evolve for the correction of ametropia and is an area of continued active development and improvement. More recently, photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) using laser technology to ablate and recontour the corneal surface has emerged as a viable modality. This paper explores the aeromedical factors surrounding this new revolutionary procedure and discusses the issues relevant to evaluating its applicability to the modern aviator as well as reviewing results of the latest clinical trials currently in progress. The goal is to provide the aeromedical community with the fundamental information required to formulate aeromedical decision- and policy-making in regard to a new procedure that is certain to have tremendous impact on future aircrew candidates.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA292293
Entities
People
- Douglas J. Ivan
Organizations
- United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine