Utilization of eye care services in Victoria.
OBJECTIVE
To determine baseline eye care utilization by older Victorians in order to assess change in 2 years after an eye health promotion campaign.


METHODS
A letter of invitation to participate was sent to all people aged 70-79 years in randomly selected Melbourne postcode areas. A questionnaire was designed to allow gathering of eye health-related information. Eye exams included autorefraction, frequency doubling technology and non-mydriatic fundus photography. Results were compared with the Melbourne Vision Impairment Project .


RESULTS
A total of 1695 people with a mean age of 74 years were recruited. The overall proportion with visual impairment was 8% (134/1695), of which 27% (36/134) was due to non-refractive causes. Only 31% (11/36) of visually impaired people knew about low-vision services, of whom 20% (7/36) had used them. Of all people with diabetes, only 52% (96/184) had a dilated eye exam within the recommended 2 years (Melbourne Vision Impairment Project 44%).


CONCLUSIONS
Compliance rates with recommendations for 2-yearly eye exams for people with diabetes have not improved since the last major eye health study in Victoria 10 years ago. The same is true for the rate of undiagnosed glaucoma, suggesting that messages about eye examinations need to be promoted for older people at high risk of vision loss, for example, those with diabetes and at risk of vision loss from glaucoma.
Müller
Andreas
A
Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Vision Cooperative Research Centre, Victoria, Australia. mullera@unimelb.edu.au
Vu
Hien T
HT
Ferraro
John G
JG
Keeffe
Jill E
JE
Taylor
Hugh R
HR
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data