Abstract: Air Vice-Marshal Sir Philip Clermont Livingston (1893–1982) was a Canadian-born British-trained ophthalmologist who made a significant contribution to aviation ophthalmology in Great Britain and in Australia. After joining the Royal Air Force Medical Branch in 1919, he combined clinical expertise and research with personal flying experience to challenge rigid visual requirements. His research into the effects of glare, night vision, defective ocular motility, depth perception, and the effects of hypoxia informed RAF and RAAF policy during World War II, leading to safer flying standards. Rising to director-general of RAF Medical Services, Livingston also advanced women's roles in military medicine and oversaw medical support during the Berlin and Korean airlifts. Despite his influence, little has been written about him. This paper examines his contributions to aviation ophthalmology and his influence on setting ocular standards for pilots during WWII in the RAF and RAAF.
Shayne Brown (Wed,) studied this question.