Survey effect on use of eye care by older persons with correctable visual impairment.
OBJECTIVE
To assess changes in the pattern of eye care utilization among older Australians with correctable visual impairment, identified in an eye survey.


METHODS
The Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) examined 3654 Australians aged >or= 49 years at baseline (BMES-I). Five-year follow-up examinations were attended by 2334 participants, 75.0% of survivors (BMES-II). Interviewers collected data on eye care utilization at each visit. Habitual (presenting) and best-corrected visual acuity were assessed using a LogMAR chart. Survey reports, including visual acuity and recommendations were sent to participants after each visit. Those with under-corrected refractive error were informed that they could benefit from a new distance prescription. Eye care utilization was compared before and after the BMES-I survey.


RESULTS
Of 2152 participants with data from both examinations, 26 had non-correctable and 115 had correctable visual impairment at BMES-I. The proportion of the 115 participants with correctable visual impairment who reported seeing an eye care provider during the previous 2 years increased from 55% at BMES-I to 64% at BMES-II. Comparing the data collected at BMES-II with that at BMES-I, a higher proportion of reported optometric visits in the previous 5 years was evident for all participants regardless of their correctable visual impairment status. Among those with correctable visual impairment at BMES-I, 58% improved to no visual impairment at BMES-II, and the proportion who subsequently wore distance correction increased from 57% to 71%.


CONCLUSIONS
We observed modest increases in eye care utilization by older persons after an eye survey, particularly those with correctable visual impairment.
Fong
Calvin Sze-un
CS
Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Wang
Jie Jin
JJ
Rochtchina
Elena
E
Schneider
Julie
J
Jakobsen
Kirsten B
KB
Smith
Wayne
W
Mitchell
Paul
P
D000368:Aged; D005139:Eyeglasses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009907:Optometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*