Abstract
Purpose :
To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of uncorrected refractive errors (URE) in elderly residents in ‘homes for the aged’ in Hyderabad, India.
Methods :
Individuals aged ≥60 years and residing in ‘homes for the aged’ in Hyderabad, India were recruited. All participants underwent visual acuity assessment, refraction, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, intraocular pressure measurement, fundus examination, and retinal imaging. Monocular presenting visual acuity was recorded using a log MAR chart. Objective and subjective refraction was done, and best-corrected visual acuity was recorded. URE was defined as presenting visual acuity worse than 20/40 but improving to 20/40 or better with refraction. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the risk factors associated with URE.
Results :
In total, 1,513 elderly participants were enumerated from 41 homes of which 1,182 participants (78.1%) were examined. The mean age of participants was 75.0 years (standard deviation 8.8 years; Range: 60 to 108 years). 35.4% of those examined were men; 20.3% had no formal education. The prevalence of URE was 13.5% (95% CI: 11.5 – 15.5). On applying multiple logistic regression analysis, compared to those living in private homes, the odds of URE were significantly higher among elderly living in the aided homes (OR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.10 – 2.40) and free homes (OR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.00 – 2.80). Compared to those who reported having an eye examination in the last three years, the odds of URE were higher among those who never had an eye examination in the last three years (OR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.08 – 2.16). Similarly, those who had unilateral cataract surgery (OR:1.80; 95% CI: 1.10 – 2.93) or bilateral cataract surgery (1.67; 95% CI: 1.10 – 2.54) had higher an odds of URE compared to those elderly who were not operated. Gender, self-report of diabetes and hypertension and education were not associated with URE.
Conclusions :
A large burden of URE was found among the residents in the ‘homes for the aged’ in Hyderabad, India which can be addressed with a pair of glasses. Over 40% of the residents never had eye examinations in the last three years suggest poor utilization of eye care services by the elderly. Regular eye examinations and provision of spectacles are needed to address needless URE among the elderly in residential in India.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.