New Refractive Surgery Procedures and Their Implications for Aviation Safety

Since the early 1980s, civil airmen have been allowed to correct refractive error (i.e. myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism) with corrective surgery. Prior Federal Aviation Administration research studies have shown that the number of civil airmen with refractive surgery continues to increase. A study that reviewed refractive surgery use in civil airmen for the years 1994-96, reported that the largest percentage had radial keratotomy (RK). A similar study that reported on the years 1996-2001, however, showed that there had been a substantial increase in the percentage of airmen with laser refractive surgery, i.e. photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). A reference guide on refractive surgery was published in September of 1998 (DOT/FAA/AM-98/25); however, at that time long-term clinical data on PRK and LASIK were not available. The introduction of new refractive surgical techniques (e.g., laser epithelial keratomileusis [LASEK], laser thermal keratoplasty (LTK), conductive keratoplasty (CK), Intacs(trademarked), phakic IOLs, and presbyopia surguries) and technology (e.g., wavefront-guided systems, Femtosecond Lasers, inlays and onlays) has further added to concerns regarding the use of refractive surgical procedures by aviators. In order to provide the aviation community with information to formulate administrative decisions and policies associated with existing and emerging refractive surgical procedures, this paper reviews current procedures and discusses their applicability in the civil aviation environment.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.faa.gov/data_research/research/med_humanfacs/oamtechreports/2000s/media/200609.pdf
• 
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/58403
• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Aviation Administration

  Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, P.O. Box 25082
  Oklahoma City, OK  United States  73125

  Federal Aviation Administration

  Office of Aerospace Medicine, 800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Authors:
  • Nakagawara, Van B
  • Wood, Kathryn J
  • Montgomery, Ron W
• Publication Date: 2006-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 45p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aviation safety; Civil aviation; Flight personnel; Lasers; Procedures; Vision
• Uncontrolled Terms: Refractive surgery
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Aviation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01026364
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/FAA/AM-06/9
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 29 2006 9:14AM