PREVALENCE OF SPECTACLE AND CONTACT-LENS WEAR IN THE UK FIRE SERVICE

Despite the fact that firefighting has been shown to be a visually dem anding occupation, the present visual standards for firefighters prohi bit the use of spectacles or contact lenses operationally. To determin e the proportion of the UK fire service currently using spectacles and contact lenses, and how many may benefit from optical correction, a q uestionnaire was distributed. This contained 30 questions and was sent to 1550 firefighters. The data from 1064 returned questionnaires have been analysed. The results show that approximately 20% of those servi ng in the fire service have used an optical correction at some time in their lives. When not working, approximately 6% of firefighters wear spectacles for distance vision and 15% wear them for reading. Only 0.4 % of firefighters use contact lenses. Half of this contact lens wearin g group use their lenses while on operational duty. In total, approxim ately 2% of firefighters use an optical correction for operational dut ies. The results indicate that a high visual standard at the time of e ntry into an occupation cannot guarantee good vision throughout an ind ividual's career. In addition, an estimated 11 000 firefighters in the UK, who have spectacles or contact lenses, do not use them for operat ional duties. The present visual standards prevent this group of firef ighters from obtaining their optimal visual performance at work.