Eyes

[killua]

Hi.

I have 3 questions:

1.Since you are watching in computer monitor for 6 hours a day do you experience eye problems? Is it some speacial monitor so your eyes don't get tired?
2.How good, or how bad is your sight allowed to be for you to pass health exam?
3.I heard there are some eyeglasses that are for eople that spend a lot of time in front of monitor so that there eyes won't "go bad", the same thing with eye drops? Do they help?

Thanks

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

I used radar for 31 years and suffered no unusual eye problems. I started wearing reading glasses in my 40s but have never needed glasses for long distance. Most controllers do not spend anything like 6 hrs in front of radar. At busy UK stations 1.5-2 hours is the maximum.

A radar viewing tube is somewhat different to a TV or PC monitor. The resolution is extremely high and it doesn't flicker constantly.

Other people will probably comment......

[Talkdownman]

I have used radar for a little over 40 years and am still doing so. I do not consider that viewing radar and monitors has had any adverse effect on my sight.
I now have a VNL restriction ('have available near vision correction') which requires the occasional use of weak 'ready-reads' (off-the-shelf specs).

And I believe that Heathrow Director is still a 'crack shot'.
(That is 'crack shot', HD, not 'crackpot'.... )

[Del Prado]

Most controllers do not spend anything like 6 hrs in front of radar. At busy UK stations 1.5-2 hours is the maximum.

Just to clarify, UK controllers spend 1.5 to 2 hours maximum per session in front of radar but 5+ hours per day is not unusual.