Prevalence of usual-corrected binocular distance visual acuity impairment in Hispanic and non-Hispanic adults.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to perform comparative analyses of the population-based prevalence of usual-corrected binocular distance visual acuity impairment among Hispanics and non-Hispanics in the United States.


METHODS
Data from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES), 1982-1984, and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Augmentation Survey I (NHANES I-A), 1974-1975, were analyzed to investigate the epidemiology of usual-corrected binocular distance acuity in adults 25 to 74 years of age among Cuban-Americans (N=396), Mexican-Americans (N=1,381), Puerto Ricans (N=513), African-Americans (N=250), and non-Hispanic white Americans (N=2, 660). Binocular distance acuity was assessed using Sloan Letters or Landolt Rings with the participants wearing their corrective lenses, if any.


RESULTS
Prevalences of 20/50 or worse usual-corrected binocular distance acuity were 3.5%, 4.6%, and 6.6% for Cuban-Americans, Mexican-Americans, and Puerto Ricans, respectively, in the HHANES; and 7.7% and 4.1% for African-Americans and non-Hispanic whites, respectively, in the NHANES I-A. Within the HHANES, after adjustment for gender and age, Puerto Rican adults were found to have a significantly higher prevalence of visual impairment (20/50 or worse) and were significantly less likely to become unimpaired with usual correction than Cuban-American adults. Within the NHANES I-A, African-Americans were found to have a higher prevalence of visual impairment (20/50 or worse) and were significantly less likely to become unimpaired with usual correction than non-Hispanic whites. Higher prevalences of visual impairment (20/50 or worse) were associated with increasing age for all ethnic groups. After controlling for age, odds of usual-corrected visual impairment (20/50 or worse) were significantly higher in women than in men for Cuban-Americans and Mexican-Americans (odds ratios: 4.5 and 2.6, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The results from this study suggest that compared to other Hispanic groups and non-Hispanic whites, Puerto Rican and African-American adults may not be receiving similar eye care services and/or may have more severe eye diseases.
Lam
B L
BL
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33101, USA.
Lee
D J
DJ
Gómez-Marín
O
O
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D003462:Cuba / Q000208:ethnology; D005006:Ethnicity; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000208:ethnology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D015348:Vision, Binocular; D014792:Visual Acuity; D044465:White People