title: Computer use among patients with age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of incurable vision loss in older adults in industrialized countries and is on a trajectory to disable a growing number of persons as societies age. To assess the potential of using telemedicine for expansion of an in-person AMD self-management program, we examined the extent of computer use in a sample of older adults with AMD.
  
  
  METHODS
  160 older adult volunteers (mean age = 76 years; female = 51%) with AMD (mean visual acuity in better eye: 20/40; worse eye: 20/90) were randomly selected from members of the San Diego County AMD Registry. Computer use was assessed with a Health and Impact Questionnaire. Dependent measures were Snellen visual acuity, National Eye Institute-Visual Function Questionnaire, the AMD Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, and the Geriatric Depression Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall 70.6% reported computer use at least once per month. By age and gender stratum, 76.5% of men aged 60-74 years, 73.3% of men aged 75 years and over, 74.3% of women aged 60-74 years, and 60.9% of women aged 75 years and over used computers. In logistic regression analyses controlling for age and gender, computer use was associated with better visual acuity (P = 0.029), higher education (P = 0.002), and self-efficacy for communication (P = 0.027).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of older adults with AMD in our sample used computers, with use highest among more educated and visually intact patients. Computer use to access the Internet is feasible in AMD patients and should be encouraged. The inclusion of computer use in measures of AMD-related functioning appears warranted.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093-0946, USA. bbrody@ucsd.edu
authors: Barbara L
authors: BL
authors: Brody
authors: Linda C
authors: LC
authors: Field
authors: Anne-Catherine
authors: AC
authors: Roch-Levecq
authors: Colin
authors: C
authors: Depp
authors: Steven D
authors: SD
authors: Edland
authors: Lilit
authors: L
authors: Minasyan
authors: Stuart I
authors: SI
authors: Brown
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003199:Computer Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology