Related Experiment Videos
Prevalence of serious eye disease and visual impairment in a north London population: population based, cross
A Reidy1, D C Minassian, G Vafidis
1Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD.
Objective:
To estimate the magnitude of serious eye disorders and of visual impairment in a defined elderly population of a typical metropolitan area in England, and to assess the frequency they were in touch with, or known to, the eye care services.
Design:
Cross sectional survey using two stage cluster random sampling.
Setting:
General practices in north London.
Subjects:
Random sample of people aged 65 and older, drawn from a defined population of elderly people registered with 17 general practice groups.
Main Outcome Measures:
Proportions and population prevalence estimates were determined for visual acuity, assessed with the person's own spectacles (if any), classified into four categories: prevalence of cataract, age related macular degeneration, and refractive error causing visual impairment and of definite primary open angle glaucoma; and status of contact with eye services.
Results:
1547 of 1840 (84%) eligible people were examined. The population prevalence of bilateral visual impairment (visual acuity <6/12) was 30%, of which 72% was potentially remediable. 92 of these 448 cases (21%) had visual acuity <6/60 ("blindness") in one or both eyes. Prevalence of cataract causing visual impairment was 30%; 88% of these people were not in touch with the eye services. The prevalence of vision impairing, age related macular degeneration was 8% and of glaucoma (definite cases) was 3%. Three quarters of the people with definite glaucoma were not known to the eye services.
Conclusions:
Untreated visual impairment and eye disorders affect a substantial proportion of people aged 65 years and older. These findings should contribute to the setting up of future strategies for preservation of sight and eye health services in general.