REFRACTIVE ERRORS AND OCULAR TRAUMA IN MILITARY FORCES AS FACTORS OF AWARENESS AND SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACT

Authors:

Abstract:

The purpose of the study was to assess, across different military contingents, the level of awareness regarding refractive errors, ophthalmic trauma and their correction, first-aid behaviours, and knowledge related to enhancing the long-term effectiveness of refractive laser procedures in the context of their potential impact on military service preparedness and the state budget. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 20–35-year-old service members serving in various military structures of Azerbaijan. In total, 450 respondents (mean age 25.4 years) participated; of these, 205 (45.6 %) belonged to the military-medical education group and 245 (54.4 %) to the group without military-medical education. In both groups, refractive correction was widespread (use of spectacles and/or contact lenses was reported by 87.3 % in the military-medical group and 87.8 % in the other group). However, experience of refractive laser surgery was more frequent in the military-medical group than in the other group, amounting to 15.1 % and 6.1 %, respectively (p=0.002).

Keywords:

refractive errors military personnel ophthalmic trauma refractive laser surgery first aid military-medical education state budget

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Publication:

«World of Medicine and Biology» Vol. 22 No. 96 (2026) , с. 97-101
УДК 617.753.25

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26724/2079-8334-2026-2-96-97-101