[Visual acuity and ocular diseases in aged residents of nursing homes: study of 219 persons in Orléans].
OBJECTIVE
To measure the visual acuity and to determine the etiological causes of visual impairment in the elderly residing in nursing homes.


METHODS
219 elderly persons residing in nursing homes were examined in the residence. The ophthalmological examination consisted in a visual acuity measurement, a slit-lamp examination and a fundus examination.


RESULTS
This study included 145 women and 74 men. Mean age was 79.1 years (range 41-101 years). Visual acuity could be measured in 181 subjects (82.6%): it was 1/10 or worse in the better eye in 23 of them (13%) and 2/10 to 3/10 in 36 patients (20%). In 21 (17.6%) out of the 119 patients aged over 74 years, visual acuity was 1/10 or worse in the better eye. Visual impairment significantly increased with age (p < 0.05). There was no difference between men and women in the prevalence of visual impairment. Among the 55 subjects with visual impairment, the main causes of vision loss were: cataract in 36 patients (66%), age-related macular degeneration in 9 patients (16%) and optic neuropathies in 5 patients (9%). Only one (2.8%) out of the 36 patients with cataract could be operated.


CONCLUSIONS
The rate of visual impairment of people in nursing homes was higher than in corresponding age groups in the general population. The main cause of vision loss was cataract; however, only a few patients could benefit from an operation. These results confirmed that a systematic ophthalmologic examination should be performed before general health problems prevent patients from being operated.
Taiel-Sartral
M
M
Service d'Ophtalmologie, CHR Orléans.
Nounou
P
P
Rea
C
C
el Alamy
A
A
Bendeddouche
K
K
Boumezrag
M
M
Milcamps
R
R
Cohen
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity
Acuité visuelle et pathologie oculaire chez le sujet âgé résidant en maison de retraite: étude orléanaise sur 219 personnes.