Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: Knowledge of factors related to eye care utilization may assist strategies that aim to prevent vision loss in at–risk populations. Methods: The Beaver Dam Eye Study is an ongoing, longitudinal cohort study that began collecting data in 1988. At baseline, participant ages ranged from 43 to 84 years. Cross–sectional analyses were performed on data from the first three study examinations that were each 5 years apart (n = 4834, n = 3667, n = 2905, respectively). ANCOVA and linear regression models were used to evaluate factors associated with self–reported time since the last eye examination by either an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Reduction of time since the last eye examination by either an ophthalmologist or optometrist was defined as self–reported change from two or more years at the second study examination to 1 year or less at the third study examination (n = 1241). Results: The mean times (± std. dev.) since the last eye examination reported at each of the three study examinations were 2.33 ± 3.44, 2.48 ± 3.29, and 2.28 ± 3.06 years, respectively. Factors independently associated with a shorter time since examination in all three cross–sectional models were current spectacle use, increasing age, increasing income, female gender, and the self–report of cataract, glaucoma, or age–related maculopathy. Factors related to a reduction in time since last eye examination between the second and third study examinations were incident visual impairment in at least one eye between the second and third study examinations (best–corrected visual acuity < 20/40) (OR=2.64, 95% CI 1.39, 4.99), incident diabetes between the second and third study examinations (OR=2.18, 95% CI 1.16, 4.09), incident cataract between the first and second study examinations (OR=1.54, 95% CI 1.14, 2.08), spectacle use at the second examination (OR=1.62, 95% CI 1.10, 2.37), and worse contrast sensitivity (≤ 10 triplets with the better eye on the Pelli–Robson Contrast Sensitivity Chart) at the second examination (OR=1.43, 95% CI 1.04, 1.96). Conclusions: Reported time since last eye examination was nearly constant at the three study examinations. Participants were more likely to reduce their time since last eye examination if they wore spectacles, had visual changes, or were diagnosed with diabetes.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications