Correctable visual impairment in an elderly Chinese population in Taiwan: the Shihpai Eye Study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of correctable visual impairment and the quality of life of persons with correctable visual impairment in a metropolitan senior population.


METHODS
The study was a community-based, cross-sectional survey of vision and eye diseases among noninstitutionalized subjects aged 65 years and older in the Shihpai community of Taipei, Taiwan. The study consisted of a structured questionnaire followed by a comprehensive standardized ophthalmic examination included presenting and best corrected visual acuity, tonometry, slit lamp biomicroscopy, and direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy.


RESULTS
A total of 1361 subjects (response rate, 66.6%) participated in both completion of the questionnaire and ophthalmic examination. The prevalence of correctable visual impairment (presenting visual acuity in the better eye <6/12 that improved to no impairment [>/=6/12] after refractive correction) was 9.55% (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.97%-11.13%). Under multiple logistic regression analysis, older age (>/=75 years; odds ratio [OR], 2.41; 95% CI, 1.56-3.70) and nonemmetropic eyes (myopia; OR, 6.80; 95% CI, 3.77-12.77 vs. hyperopia; OR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.29-3.51) were significantly related to correctable visual impairment. A higher level of education (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.32-0.83) and wearing distance eyeglasses during the eye examination (OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.12-0.43) were protective factors for correctable visual impairment. Subjects with correctable visual impairment scored significantly lower in the physical functioning dimension of the SF-36 questionnaire (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The results demonstrate that approximately 10% of the senior population in the Shihpai district has a correctable visual impairment. Thus, it is important to educate the public about the importance of regular examination and the possibility of improving visual acuity by wearing glasses.
Kuang
Tung-Mei
TM
Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Tsai
Su-Ying
SY
Hsu
Wen-Ming
WM
Cheng
Ching-Yu
CY
Liu
Jorn-Hon
JH
Chou
Pesus
P
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014792:Visual Acuity; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*