THE ASSESSMENT OF VISUAL FUNCTION AFTER P HOTOREFRACTIVE KERATECTOMY WITH A VIEW TO LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GERMAN-POLICE-SERVICE

Background The Polizeidienstvorschrift (PDV) 300 is a regulation which prescribes visual requirements for applicants to the German Police Se rvice. Among other demands, uncorrected visual acuity (VA) of both eye s must be at least 0.5 before age 18 and at least 0.3 after age 21. Th e spherical equivalent of spectacle correction is ordained to fall int o the range between -2.0 and +3.0 dpt. To date, recommendations for th e assessment of excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) with a view to Police Service applicants are still lacking. Patients Two app licants with myopic astigmatism were treated by PRK in order to meet t he refractive requirements for entering the German Police Service. The first patient was judged fit for service two weeks after PRK was perf ormed on his right eye. At this time uncorrected VA was 1.0. VA under glare conditions and contrast sensitivity had not been tested. The sec ond patient had a stable postoperative refraction with an uncorrected VA of 1.0 in both eyes at six months postoperatively. VA under glare c onditions and contrast sensitivity were normal. However, the medical s ervice of the police authority demanded an additional follow-up of six months before judging this applicant fit for service. Conclusions Bef ore excimer laser PRK is performed in myopic police service applicants , a careful examination should rule out disorders of the visual system which are not related to the refractive error and may preclude admiss ion into the police service. After PRK in this group of persons, a pos toperative standard follow-up of at least six months should be demande d. Since fitness for night driving, self-defence ability and good orie ntation under difficult visual conditions are mandatory for police off icers, any ophthalmologic certificate should make definite statements about glare and contrast sensitivity.