Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To determine the age-, and gender-specific prevalence of visual impairment in a population-based sample of adult Latinos in urban Los Angeles County, California. Methods:The LALES is a population-based prevalence study of eye disease among Latinos aged 40 and older. All participants underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination including presenting and best-corrected distance visual acuity using a standard ETDRS protocol. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine the prevalence rates of visual impairment (defined as visual acuity of 20/40 or worse) using two criteria: a) presenting binocular visual acuity (PBVA) and b) best-corrected visual impairment in the better eye (BCVA). The relationship of age and gender to visual impairment was explored using logistic regression and Mantel-Haenszel procedures. Results: Of the 5,679 participants who were examined, the overall prevalence rates of visual impairment based on PBVA and BCVA were 6.6% and 2.9%, respectively. Uncorrected refractive error was the cause of visual impairment in 5.4% of the cases. Visual impairment based on PBVA was significantly greater in older participants (RR = 1.0, 1.9, 4.3, 9.2, 31.7 for 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and 80+ years, respectively; p<0.0001); females were more likely to have visual impairment than males (RR = 1.4, p=0.002). Visual impairment based on BCVA was also significantly greater in older participants (RR = 1.0, 1.3, 5.7, 18.4, 58.6 for 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and 80+ years respectively; p<0.0001); females were more likely to have visual impairment than males (RR = 1.1, p=0.02). Mantel-Haenszel analyses revealed that age and gender were independently related to visual impairment (p=0.018 and p<0.001 respectively). Conclusions:Overall prevalence rates of visual impairment are lower than those seen in whites (Beaver Dam study) and blacks (Barbados and Baltimore Eye studies). Regardless of the criterion for determining visual impairment, older individuals and females were more likely to be visually impaired.
Keywords: visual acuity • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: pre • aging: visual performance