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Frequency of under-corrected refractive errors in elderly Chinese in Beijing
Liang Xu1, Jianjun Li, Tongtong Cui
1Department of Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Tongren Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Summary
Refractive error under-correction is common in elderly Chinese in Beijing, affecting 19.4%. Lower education, female gender, and older age were linked to higher rates of under-corrected refractive error.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
- Gerontology
Background:
- Refractive error is a significant cause of vision impairment globally.
- Accurate correction of refractive error is crucial for maintaining quality of life, especially in aging populations.
- Limited data exists on the prevalence of under-corrected refractive error among elderly Chinese in urban and rural settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of under-corrected refractive error in elderly Chinese individuals aged 40 and above in the Beijing area.
- To identify demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with under-corrected refractive error in this population.
Main Methods:
- A population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted with 4,439 participants (83.4% response rate) from Beijing's urban and rural areas.
- Visual acuity was measured using habitual and best-corrected methods.
- Under-corrected refractive error was defined as a visual acuity improvement of at least two lines with optimal correction.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of under-corrected refractive error was 19.4% (95% CI: 18.2–20.6).
- Multiple regression analysis revealed significant associations between under-corrected refractive error and lower education levels (P<0.001), female gender (P<0.001), and older age (P=0.001).
Conclusions:
- Under-correction of refractive error is a common issue among the elderly Chinese population in Beijing.
- Findings suggest a need for targeted interventions to improve refractive error correction in this demographic, considering factors like education and gender.