Rehabilitation of hospital inpatients with visual impairments and disabilities from systemic illness.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the comorbidity of visual impairment and disability among patients hospitalized for systemic illness and to discuss rehabilitation.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Hospital-based, academic tertiary medical center with referring neurology, ophthalmology, and rehabilitation units.


METHODS
Ninety-three hospitalized patients referred to the low vision rehabilitation clinic primarily by the physical medicine and rehabilitation and neurology units.


METHODS
Measurements of best-corrected visual acuity and other visual function testing. Referrals were made for prescriptive glasses, assistive devices, rehabilitation, resources, and ophthalmologic evaluation.


METHODS
Specialized services, presence of comorbidities, and visual function measurements.


RESULTS
The mean admitting visual acuity revealed a moderate visual impairment. The primary diagnosis for admission (51%) was cerebrovascular accidents. There was a mean of 3.5 other comorbidities.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of patients admitted to the hospital for systemic diseases also had visual impairments. In many patients, this visual disability (either from the systemic and/or ocular disease) interfered with their activities of daily living.
Park
William L
WL
Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. wpark@jhmi.edu
Mayer
R Samuel
RS
Moghimi
Chris
C
Park
Joanne M
JM
Deremeik
James T
JT
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation*