ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL USE OF EXTENDED-WEAR CONTACT LENSES IN A COMBAT AVIATION

THIS PHASE I STUDY WILL DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF THE PROPOSED METHODOLOGY IN ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL USE OF EW CONTACT LENSES IN AN ARMY AVIATION COMBAT ENVIRONMENT. IT WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS BY: (A) EVALUATING FDA MANUFACTURERS' DATA ON CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF APPROVED EW CONTACT LENSES; (B) PRETESTING, SELECTING, AND FITTING EW CONTACT LENSES TO TEST SUBJECTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN OPERATIONAL FLYING ON A FULL TIME BASIS; (C) MONITORING AND RECORDING THE PROGRESS OF THE TEST SUBJECTS ON A PERIODIC BASIS UTILIZING BOTH OBJECTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE MEASUREMENTS; (D) CORRELATING, ANALYZING, AND EVALUATING ALL STUDY DATA; (E) DEVELOPING PARAMETERS FOR COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS OF EW LENSES BASED UPON TEST STUDY; AND (F) SUBMITTING FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO APPROPRIATE DOD COMPONENTS.