A Longitudinal Study on the Effects of Laser Refractive Eye Surgery in Military Aircrew
Abstract
Excellent high contrast visual acuity results are achieved after laser refractive eye surgery for low to moderate refractive errors. In the early 1990's, many reports showed a decrease in low contrast acuity after laser surgery. Military aircrew work in many different arenas and have identified situations involving low light and low contrast as being the most visually demanding. Postoperative low contrast acuity has improved with newer laser techniques but there was still concern that vision after laser eye surgery would be not good enough for military aircrew demands. This report was designed to assess the post−laser vision of non−pilot aircrew; measuring both the standard high contrast acuity and low contrast vision with and without glare. This report provides a statistical analysis of contrast sensitivity visual results after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and reports on the results of a questionnaire designed to assess possible postoperative subjective visual problems. Testing was done on the Stereo Optical Functional Acuity Contrast Test (FACT) at a low light level, with and without glare, and at standard photopic light level. The aircrew subjects who underwent LASIK performed significantly better than matched control subjects on the FACT at all light levels when measured at both 6 and 18 months post−operatively. There was no significant difference between the LASIK group and their controls when tested undilated on the Precision Vision Logarithmic Contrast Sensitivity Charts at 6 months post−operatively. The aircrew at 6 months post−laser performed significantly worse than the control group when each group was dilated with Tropicamide 1%. By 18 months post−LASIK, there was no longer any difference between the LASIK group and their controls on the low contrast letter charts, either dilated or undilated.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA436302
Entities
People
- Bill Bateman
- Bob Thatcher
- Cyd Courchesne
- Dan Wainberg
- Gary Gray
- Gayle Quick
- Keith K. Niall
- Patricia Hinton
Organizations
- Defence Research and Development Canada