Prevalence of uncorrected binocular distance visual acuity in Hispanic and non-Hispanic adults. Results from the HHANES and the NHANES I.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to provide a comparative analysis of American population-based prevalence of uncorrected binocular distance visual acuity in Hispanics and non-Hispanics.


METHODS
The study design was a population-based survey.


METHODS
Data from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1982 and 1984 and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I from 1974 through 1975 were analyzed to investigate the epidemiology of uncorrected binocular distance visual acuity in adults 25 to 74 years of age in Cuban Americans (N = 391), Mexican Americans (N = 1350), Puerto Ricans (N = 504), African Americans (N = 245), and non-Hispanic white Americans (N = 2571).


METHODS
Uncorrected binocular distance visual acuity in both eyes was assessed using Sloan letters or Landolt rings.


RESULTS
Prevalence rates of 20/50 or worse uncorrected binocular distance visual acuity were 22%, 24%, 19%, 18%, and 32% for African Americans, Cuban Americans, Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and non-Hispanic whites, respectively. After adjustment for gender and age, the rates were significantly higher (P < 0.05) for non-Hispanic whites compared to each of the other ethnic groups. Significant increases in the prevalence of 20/50 or worse distance visual acuity were observed for increasing age groups (25-39, 40-59, and 60-74 years) within each gender-ethnic subgroup. Analysis of differences in prevalence by gender (controlling for age) indicated a slightly higher prevalence of 20/50 or worse distance visual acuity in women than in men (range of odds ratios, 1.1-2.1). Based on 1993 census population estimates in the United States, more than 42 million adults 25 to 74 years of age have an uncorrected binocular distance visual acuity of 20/50 or worse. Approximately 1.7 million of these adults are of Hispanic origin.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of impaired uncorrected binocular distance visual acuity generally is lower in Hispanics than in non-Hispanic whites.
Lee
D J
DJ
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida, USA.
Gomez-Marin
O
O
Lam
B L
BL
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D014787:Vision Tests; D015348:Vision, Binocular; D014792:Visual Acuity; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data