Aids For Improving Vision In White-Out.

Abstract

The ability to see well deteriorates markedly under conditions of uniform visual stimulation (white-out). These conditions are frequently encountered by both the Navy and Marine Corps troops operating in winter environments. This study tested two different visual aids in an attempt to improve vision under these conditions. One of the aids, a yellow goggle, showed promise for improving the perception of depth in both low light and snow conditions. The other, a correction for empty-field myopia (nearsightedness induced by a featureless visual field) did not improve vision. Further research is planned to specify more precisely the conditions in which the yellow goggles improve vision, and to investigate the reasons for the failure of the lenticular corrections to improve vision. (Author)