TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2006//
TI  - Attrition of military enlistees with a medical waiver for myopia, 1999-2001
JO  - Military medicine
A1  - Otto, William C.
A1  - Niebuhr, David W.
A1  - Powers, Timothy E.
A1  - Krauss, Margot R.
A1  - McVeigh, Francis L.
A1  - Tarbett, Aaron K.
SP  - 1137
EP  - 1141
VL  - 171
IS  - 11
N2  - BACKGROUND: Military service requires physical fitness, including vision within set standards. Premature attrition inflicts a considerable manpower and fiscal burden upon the military. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort survival analysis of newly enlisted military personnel who entered active duty with a medical waiver for myopia between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2001. Premature attrition rates, both medical and overall, were compared with those for a matched, fully qualified, comparison group. RESULTS: New enlistees with a waiver for myopia had the same probability of remaining on active duty through the first 2 years of service as did fully qualified peers. Enlistees with a waiver for myopia also had a low probability of an early medical discharge for myopia. CONCLUSION: The results of this study tend to validate the current branch-specific myopia waiver processes. They also provide evidence that current myopia accession criteria may be too restrictive and in need of policy review.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0026-4075
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -