Journal article
Military Aircrew Eyewear Survey: Operational Issues
Aviation, space, and environmental medicine, v 84(8), pp 814-822
01 Aug 2013
PMID: 23926656
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Background: Army aircrew are required to operate under stressful conditions within a degraded visual environment. To gain an understanding of current eyewear mission needs, we surveyed aircrew regarding operational issues associated with the current U.S. Army-issue aircrew eyewear. Methods: An anonymous online survey was completed by 976 U.S. Army aircrew personnel recruited through an invitational e-mail. Results: Of the respondents, 34% reported wearing corrective lenses. Nearly 50% of them reported dissatisfaction with the HGU-4/P Aviator spectacles. The leading problems reported were discomfort (15%), "hot spots" around the ears (13%), and break of the earcup seal (11%). Nearly 41% of the respondents wore multifocal lenses and, of those, 16% reported that the HGU-4/P's restricted field of view (FOV) adversely affected duty performance. Of those who wore Modified HGU-4/P Apache spectacles, 79% had an unacceptable FOV with the helmet display unit. A similar number of aircrew modified the Apache eyewear to increase the FOV. In addition, wind and dust created eye discomfort or affected the vision of 46% of all respondents when performing flight duties. Over 82% expressed the need for an improved aircrew spectacles and 73% desired aviation-compatible protective eyewear. Discussion: The current Army HGU-4/P Aviator and the Modified HGU-4/P Apache spectacles have significant operational deficiencies and compatibility issues. Such deficiencies have led to poor wear compliance and unauthorized modification of the Army-issue Aviator eyewear, posing readiness and safety issues. The results of this survey formally identify the need for military combat eye protection that is compatible with flight systems.
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Details
- Title
- Military Aircrew Eyewear Survey: Operational Issues
- Creators
- Jose E. Capo-Aponte - Womack Army Medical CenterDavid J. Hilber - United States Army Public Health CommandThomas G. Urosevich - United States Army Aeromedical Research LabMorris R. Lattimore - United States Army Aeromedical Research LabJeffrey L. Weaver - United States Army Aeromedical Research Lab
- Publication Details
- Aviation, space, and environmental medicine, v 84(8), pp 814-822
- Publisher
- Aerospace Medical Assoc
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- Military Operational Medicine Research Program (MOMRP); United States Department of Defense; United States Army; United States Army Medical Research & Development Command (USAMRDC) U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command; United States Department of Defense; United States Army; U.S. Army Medical Research & Materiel Command (USAMRMC)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO)
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000332996300006
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84884326785
- Other Identifier
- 991022025113204721
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- Web of Science research areas
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
- Sport Sciences