Uncorrected binocular distance visual impairment in U.S. Hispanic children and adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To assess and compare uncorrected binocular distance visual impairment rates in U.S. Hispanic children and adolescents.


METHODS
Data from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1982-1984, were analyzed for 6-19 year-old Cuban-Americans (n = 317), Mexican-Americans (n = 2519), and Puerto Ricans (n = 988). Visual acuity was assessed using Sloan Letters or Landolt Rings.


RESULTS
Prevalence rates of uncorrected binocular distance visual impairment (20/30 or worse) were 15.5%, 14.9%, and 23.6% for Cuban-Americans, Mexican-Americans, and Puerto Ricans, respectively. After adjusting for age and gender, the differences between Puerto Ricans and both Cuban-Americans and Mexican-Americans were significant (p < 0.05). Children 6-12 years of age had lower visual impairment rates than 13-19 year-old adolescents. Girls had higher age-adjusted visual impairment rates than boys; these gender differences were statistically significant among Mexican-Americans (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.1, 2.2) and Puerto Ricans (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.2, 2.4).


CONCLUSIONS
Among Hispanics, Puerto Rican children and adolescents have the highest prevalence rate of uncorrected binocular distance visual impairment; older age and female gender are associated with higher rates of uncorrected visual impairment.
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Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.
Lam
B L
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Lee
D J
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Gómez-Marín
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D003462:Cuba / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000208:ethnology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015357:Vision Disparity; D015348:Vision, Binocular; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology