title: Uncorrected distance visual impairment among adolescents in the United States.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe uncorrected distance visual impairment (VI).
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted an analysis of the 3,555 adolescents aged 12 through 21 years who participated in the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Distance VI was defined as 20/40 or worse in the better-seeing eye. Data were weighted to represent the civilian noninstitutionalized population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 12.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.7%-14.1%) had distance VI, which was correctable to 20/30 or better in both eyes in 86.1% (95% CI: 83.6%-89.5%). The prevalence was higher among those who reported not having corrective lenses available (44.3%) compared with those who reported that they did not need them (8.5%) or who had them available (5.2%; p < .001). After adjusting for potential confounders, those who were 12 or 13 years of age had 2.27 (95% CI: 1.32-3.90) greater odds of distance VI than older adolescents, and the odds of distance VI were greater among non-Hispanic blacks (1.66 [95% CI: 1.11-2.48]), Hispanics (1.96 [95% CI: 1.35-2.84]), or other race/ethnicities (2.06 [95% CI: 1.19-3.57]) than among non-Hispanic whites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than 1 in 10 adolescents had uncorrected distance VI. To address this, interventions should address case detection, access to eye care, and adherence with corrective lenses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27705, USA. alex.kemper@duke.edu
authors.forename: Alex R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kemper
authors.forename: David K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: Xinzhi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Nita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Crews
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004215:Distance Perception; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014481:United States; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult