Dear MikeT,

Subject:  99 percent nearsight go further "down" at West Point.

MikeT> If you believe one percent survives four years without
negative refractive change, then you believe 99% DID
experience negative refractive change.

Otis> Actually, among those wearing a minus lens it was 100%.
Sorry for the error.

MikeT> Is that how you arrived at 99%?

Otis> By reading the scientific report.

Otis> Mike -- Actually 100 percent nearsighed got worse.  Thus
your 99 percent was not accurate -- it was 100 percent.  No
one "imporoved" to 20/20.

Otis> Here are the figures for those cadets who get worse
at West Point -- who were nearsighed on entry
and wore the minus lens all the time -- as recommended.

__________________________________________________

Gmelin:  Myopia at West Point:    Past and Present Military
Medicine, 141 (8) 542 - 3 Aug 76

2.    The average increase in myopia was -1.37 diopters (the range
being -1.12 diopters through -1.62 diopters (over four
years).

Otis> Always glad to "correct" your 99 percent got worse to 100
percent at West Point.

Best,

Otis

_______________________

Otis> Are you just playing dumb?  I stated that the POPULATION
AVERAGE moves "down" at a rate of -1/3 diopter per year.

MikeT> Yes, but you also "stated":

at 20/25) that he will be the one-percent who survives four
years with NO NEGATIVE REFRACTIVE CHANGE.

[I was wrong!  No one survives! Sorry! OSB]

MikeT> If you believe one percent survives four years without
negative refractive change, then you believe 99% DID
experience negative refractive change.

MikeT> Since it doesn't happen, we must assume you simply spout
figures without understanding them.

[I don't "spout figures".  Here are the publishe values
for those who "cleared" their vison from nearsighedness
at West Point.  OSB]

Otis> Hell, even high school students can figure out the
implications of that statement.

MikeT> Is that how you arrived at 99%?

Otis> Actually this Weat Point study is how I arrived at the
percentage of myopis who went "down" at the college.
How did YOU calculuate the percentage?

Best,

Otis Engineer

___________________________________

Gmelin> The subject of progressive myopia among the cadets remaind
dorment at the USMA for ten year.  Renewed interest in among
the cadets remained dorment and not further invdstigations
were made the subject of myopia was generated by the study
of MAJ McKinney mC, on the Cadet Class of 1956.  In his
unpublished report, "A Study of Refractive Trends at West
Point", MAJ McKinney concluded:

1.    Pseudo-myopia during periods of stress associated with
studying may result in blurred vision in cadets with little
"hyperopic reserve".

2.    The average increase in myopia was -1.37 diopters (the range
being -1.12 diopters through -1.62 diopters (over four
years).

3.    39 percent of the graduationg caets of the 1956 had less
than 20/20 vision at graduation; and

4.    Recommendation that the visoin standards rmain unchanged --
that hyeropia over +2 diopters and that myopia over -1.5
diopters be cause for entrance disqualification.

Best,

Otis