Spectacle Coverage in Older Adults from Parintins: The Brazilian Amazon Region Eye Survey (BARES)

Abstract

Purpose : To estimate the spectacle coverage for distance and near in older adults from urban and rural areas of Parintins, Brazilian Amazon Region.

Methods : A population-based cross sectional study was conducted using cluster random sampling, to enumerate subjects 45 years of age and older from 20 clusters (14 urban and 6 rural). Eligible subjects were enumerated through a door-to-door household survey and invited to an examination site for visual acuity testing and eye exam. Uncorrected (UCVA), presenting (PVA) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were measured from each eye for distance and near. Glasses usage was noted. Subjects were classified as met need (those with VA 20/40 or worse in the better-vision eye without correction, but who achieved VA > 20/40 in the better-vision eye with their present spectacles) and unmet need (those with PVA 20/40 or worse in the better-vision eye and who do not have any glasses, but achieved BCVA > 20/40 or better in the better-vision eye). The spectacle coverage percentage was calculated as [met need/(met need+unmet need)] x100. Possible associations of spectacle wear with gender, age, education level and geographic residency location were investigated by multiple logistic regression.

Results : A total of 2383 eligible persons was enumerated, and 2042 (85.7%) were examined. In 1308 (64%) participants no glasses were used both for near and distance. For those 734 wearing glasses: 472 (23%) had glasses only for near; 293 (14%) had glasses for both near and distance, and 22 (1%) had glasses only for distance. Overall spectacle coverage was 45.8% for distance and 39.6% for near. Those living in rural areas had lower coverage (around 33%) for both near and distance. Coverage for distance and near was lower (around 30%) for males and higher (around 65%) for higher educational level. Distance glasses usage significantly decreased with age and increased with higher education. On the contrary, near glasses wear significantly increased with age, education level and female gender.

Conclusions : There was a low spectacle coverage, mainly, for near in this population. Risk groups are particularly males, those with lower educational levels and those living in rural areas. Cost-effective strategies to eliminate this easily treatable cause of visual impairment are warranted.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.