ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 97th Medical Operations Squadron Optometry Office helps maintain visual health for all service members and their dependents, ensuring mission readiness for the base.
They screen for any type of condition within the eye, provide prescriptions and do repairs and fittings for glasses. If diagnosed, the clinic can treat some conditions on site, but more severe cases have to be referred.
Without sight, there are a lot of things a person becomes unable to do. In the military, eyesight is essential in executing the mission.
“If you can’t see you can’t shoot. You can’t put a bandage on somebody, you can’t fly a plane, and you can’t see who you’re supposed to be arresting. There are a lot of things you just can’t do if you can’t see, and that’s why we’re here,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Terrence Brown Sr., 97th Medical Operations Squadron NCO in charge of optometry services.
Because Altus AFB has a large flying community, with pilots constantly coming in and out for training, optometry is essential in ensuring mission success. While vision is a necessity for all military members, due to the nature of their jobs, the ability to see clearly at all times is essential for pilots.
“Pilots are required to have 20/20 vision,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Andrea Rope, 97th Medical Operation Squadron aerospace and operational medicine flight commander. “There are so many regulations they have to adhere to and it’s our job to make sure they meet those requirements.”
Though pilots are initially required to have perfect vision, because this degrades over time their eyesight has to be correctable to 20/20 vision with the aid of contact lenses or glasses.
For pilots to wear contact lenses, they have to be on the Air Crew Contact Lens Program, which is a special Air Force program that ensures the pilots only use approved contact lenses and solutions. The contact lenses have to be approved for flight based on the water content of the lens and several other factors to ensure there’s no adverse reaction to the higher altitudes.
“Many flyers start with perfect vision, but your vision changes over time. Usually it’s as simple as getting them a new prescription, but every once in a while, it’s something that requires more than glasses to fix,” said Rope. “Per Air Force Instruction 48-123, or the Medical Standards Directory, pilots must not have certain conditions. If they do, they would need a waiver for anything they don’t qualify on.”
U.S. Air Force Capt. Matt Sobey, 54th Air Refueling Squadron instructor pilot, went to the Air Force Academy in 2005. At that time, he had 20/20 vision. Four years later, when he graduated from the academy and commissioned, his vision had changed to 20/25. The slight change in vision required him to wear glasses, which he received upon showing up to pilot training.
“I was not enthusiastic about getting contact lenses for the longest time, but last year, I decided to try the program out. After 30 days, I was signed off by the flight doctor to wear my contact lenses in flight. I didn’t think it was going to be as beneficial as it has been,” Sobey said. “Wearing glasses underneath your headset makes it a little inconvenient and uncomfortable sometimes when wearing your flight helmet. I don’t have to worry with the contact lenses. It’s been a great change, and I pretty much wear them all the time now.”
With every flight, pilots place a lot of faith in their vision. They are responsible for not only taking care of the expensive aircraft they fly, but also ensuring the safety of those aboard.
“A basic crew consists of three members. Here at Altus, we operate a little differently since we have a training mission,” said Sobey. “We still have the fully qualified pilot and boom operator on board, but we also have one-to-four students on the jet with us sometimes as well.”
While each aircraft is equipped with instruments that assist pilot navigation, Sobey said vision is essential, especially for landing.
“We can fly on instruments for a lot of what we do, but when transitioning to land, you have to be able to see,” said Sobey. “During my last assignment, it was a lot of seeing and avoiding. Our instruments help us, but the best way to make sure you’re not going to run into anybody is to make sure you can see what’s around you clearly.”