Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: Determine the vision conditions and ocular findings in patients older than 99 years of age. Methods: Patients were recruited by media advertisement and examined at the Vision Institute of the UNIFESP. Inclusion criteria: more than 99 years old. The following exams were performed: visual acuity, ectoscopy, refraction, biomicroscopy, tear film break–up time (BUT), schimer basal test, applanation tonometry, direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Complementary exams such as optical cohence tomography were performed when indicated. Results: Twenty–two patients older than 99 years were identified, 15 examined, 13 females and 2 males with ages between 100 and 104, mean age of 101,43 years (± 1,40). The principal systemic disease, according to history, was blood hypertension 5 (33,33%) and other 5 patients (33,33%) reported no disease or no use of medicaments at the moment.The best eye corrected distance visual acuity was 20/50 in two patients (13,33%) and the worse was light project in just one (6,66%). The best eye corrected reading visual acuity was J1 in two patients (13,33%). The most frequent visual complain was low vision for reading (46,66%) and other 7 patients (46,66%) reported satisfied with their quality of vision. Applanation tonometry showed 2 patients with ocular pression higher than 24 mmHg and optic disc with aspect suggestive of glaucomatous lesion, none under treatment for glaucoma. Lens opacity was present in 60% and 6 patients (40%) had already done cataract surgery (5 eyes aphakic, 7 eyes IOL).Just in one patient it was considered that cataract was impairing vision. The main cause of visual impairment was age related macular degeneration. Sixty per cent of the patients (9 patients) received eyeglasses prescription, vision improvement in 4 cases. Conclusions: This sample showed that most were female, with systemic blood hypertension, complaining from low vision for reading because of age related macular degeneration. Most patients weren’t submitted to cataract surgery, but are satisfied with their vision, the lens opacity they have doesn’t compromise their quality of life. Reading is very important for them. Quality of Life and Vision Quality are directly related. The importance of keeping studies on Age–Related Macular Degeneration once it is an important cause of compromising vision. This sample can detach some interesting aspects of this new old population.
Keywords: aging • visual acuity • quality of life