Soft hydrophilic contact lenses in civil and military aviation.

This study was undertaken to evaluate that possible acceptability of the hydrophilic contact lenses, both in military and civil aviation. Twelve volunteers, senior pilots of both military and civilian aircraft, were accepted for the first phase of this study. Hydrophilic contact lenses were evaluated in different flights conditions, including different altitudes, pressures and humidities, as well as the effects of light and glare and the special tasks of military flight. Although the series investigated is small, the results obtained indicate that hydrophilic contact lenses may favorably replace regular spectacles worn by pilots of military or civilian aircraft.