Differences in Eye Health, Access to Eye Care Specialists and Use of Lenses among Immigrant and Native-Born Workers in Spain

Abstract

Latin American immigrants make up 49% of the total immigrant population in Spain, yet little is known about their eye health. The aim of this study is to determine if there are differences in self-perceived eye health, access to eye care specialists, and use of lenses between a sample of Latin American immigrant workers from Colombia and Ecuador, and native-born workers in Spain. We used data from the PELFI cohort (Project for Longitudinal Studies of Immigrant Families). The sample consisted of 179 immigrant workers born in Colombia or Ecuador, and 83 Spanish-born workers. The outcome variables were self-perceived eye health, access to eye specialists, and use of lenses. A descriptive analysis of the sample was carried out, and the prevalence of the three outcome variables in immigrants and natives was calculated and adjusted for explanatory variables. Random effects logistic regression models examined eye health outcomes by workers’ country of birth. Immigrants are less likely to report poor self-perceived eye health than native-born (ORc 0.46; CI 95%, 0.22–0.96). Furthermore, they have less access to specialists (ORc 2.61; CI 95%, 1.32–5.15) and a higher probability of needing lenses but not having them (ORc 14.14; CI 95%, 1.77–112.69). This latter variable remained statistically significant after adjusting for covariates (ORa 34.05; CI 95%, 1.59–729.04). Latin American immigrants may not value the use of lenses, despite eye care specialists indicating that they need them. Eye health education is required to recognize the importance of using lenses according to their visual needs.

Visual impairments among immigrants living in Northeast Turkey and their ocular finding differences compared to the local population

“…[1][2][3] These individuals, who generally have a low socioeconomic level in their countries of origin, also have many undiagnosed diseases related to ophthalmology. 3,4 Since immigrants generally work in heavy and arduous jobs, such as construction, cleaning, and farmwork [4][5][6][7][8] , they face environmental risk factors that can be harmful to eye health. 4,8 These are mainly the overexposure to sunlight, chemicals, mechanical devices, plants, garbage and similar foreign bodies, and contact of these materials with the surface of the eye can damage tissue in that area.…”

“…3,4 Since immigrants generally work in heavy and arduous jobs, such as construction, cleaning, and farmwork [4][5][6][7][8] , they face environmental risk factors that can be harmful to eye health. 4,8 These are mainly the overexposure to sunlight, chemicals, mechanical devices, plants, garbage and similar foreign bodies, and contact of these materials with the surface of the eye can damage tissue in that area. 8,9 There are many publications showing that uncorrected refractive errors are higher among immigrants than in the local population.…”

“…4,8 These are mainly the overexposure to sunlight, chemicals, mechanical devices, plants, garbage and similar foreign bodies, and contact of these materials with the surface of the eye can damage tissue in that area. 8,9 There are many publications showing that uncorrected refractive errors are higher among immigrants than in the local population. 4,10-14 Difficulty in accessing ophthalmology clinics delays the diagnosis and surgery time of conditions such as pingeicula, pterygium, cataracts and trauma in these individuals.…”