title: Vision quality of elderly Oklahomans.
abstract: The purposes of this study are to determine if age related visual changes are affecting the ability of older adults to perform everyday tasks, to identify histories of eye diseases/eye surgeries, and to document eye care practices. Our sample was obtained from the Third Age Life Center at Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. The survey was mailed to 14,856 members; 848 (6%) surveys were returned. Over 84% of the respondents have never been diagnosed with dry eye syndrome, glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy. Sixty percent rated their health and vision quality as good. Females expressed more vision problems than males. Advanced age (75 years or older) did increase likelihood of experiencing eye diseases and vision difficulties. The majority of respondents in this study appear to be experiencing healthy vision with minimal age-related changes and have not been diagnosed with the eye diseases characteristic of this age group. Evidence of regular eye examinations was reported, with 33% of the respondents reporting having eye exams once a year and 33% twice a year.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Baptist Medical Center, Oklahoma City.
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Imes
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peck
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009825:Oklahoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology