Demographics and Vision Restrictions in Civilian Pilots: Clinical Implications

Nakagawara VB, Montgomery RW, Wood KJ

FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine - Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

关键词: Vision;    Age;    Aviation Certification;    Aeromedical;    Pilots;   

RP-ID  :  DOT/FAA/AM-04/6

美国|英语

来源: Federal Aviation Administration

【 摘 要 】

Background: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) permits airmen with certain medical conditions or diseases to be medically certified, provided that such action does not compromise aviation safety. The FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine helps guide policy decisions through the study of common medical pathologies, including visual disorders and the use of new ophthalmic devices and refractive procedures by airmen. To perform this function properly, an in-depth knowledge of the airman population is required. This study examined demographic statistics for the civil airman population, including vision pathologies, for the period 1976 to 2001 and their relevance to the clinical care of aviators by eyecare practitioners.Methods: Medical certification data were extracted from FAA publications and databases for all civil airmen who were active on December 31st of each year from 1976 to 2001. Frequency and medical restriction data were delineated into 5-year increments and analyzed to identify population trends for the 25-year study period.Results: Although the total number of airmen has decreased over the study period (-17%), the population of male and female airmen holding first-class medical certificates has grown by 119% and 1,241%, respectively. The percentage of airmen > 40 years of age has increased by 17%, and the average age rose from 36.8 to 42.3 years of age. Additionally, the increase in near vision restrictions (13%) was more than double that of distant vision restrictions (6%) during the study period. As of 2001, 92% of all medical restrictions were vision related.Conclusion: The changing demographic profile of the civil airman population, which includes a growing number of first-class certificate holders, first-class female aviators, and the increasing maturity of the pilot population, may compound the challenge to eyecare practitioners tasked with advising aviators concerning the proper choice of refractive correction. To guide the clinician in recommending the most appropriate form of refractive correction, the unique aviation vision demands, ergonomic considerations, and environmental conditions experienced by the civilian pilot are discussed.