Prevalence of Remediable Disability due to Low Vision among Institutionalised Elderly People

Abstract

Background: Prevalence of remediable visual disability among institutionalised elderly people, resulting from inappropriate use or non-use of low-vision aids, is reported to be high, but largely rests on anecdotal evidence. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of binocular low vision and underlying eye diseases among institutionalised elderly people in a Dutch urban population and the size of remediable visual disability as the result of inappropriately corrected low vision. Methods: The design was a cross-sectional survey of 284 subjects with low vision (corrected binocular vision <0.4) in nursing homes and homes for the elderly in the Netherlands. Results: 284 of 610 eligible residents were examined. The prevalence of binocular low vision was 31.3%. Among elderly residents with low vision, prevalence of cataract, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy was 77.9, 37.7, 5.2 and 5.2%, respectively. In 32 residents (41.6%), (non)-use of low-vision aids was considered inappropriate. In 50 residents (64.9%), visual disability was considered at least partially remediable, either through better use of low-vision aids, or through cataract extraction. Residents who were not optimally corrected for low vision were significantly more functionally impaired compared with their peers who were optimally corrected. Conclusion: Low vision is likely to be highly prevalent among institutionalised elderly. A significant amount of the associated visual disability may be remediable.

Impact of Visual Impairment on Vision-Specific Quality of Life among Older Adults Living in Nursing Home

“…The information helps in understanding the impact of VI, psychosocial support and eye care interventions on QoL and in establishing prevention and rehabilitation programs for visually impaired persons living in nursing homes. 3,22,23 CONCLUSION The prevalence of VI and blindness is high among older people living in nursing homes. Inadequate eye care services as well as poor uptake on available services are the problems in the nursing homes.…”

Serviço de visão subnormal do Instituto Brasileiro de Oftalmologia e Prevenção da Cegueira (IBOPC): análise dos pacientes atendidos no 1º ano do departamento (2004)

“…Alguns autores em 1995, constataram que 75% dos pacientes atendidos no departamento de VSN de um serviço público eram crianças e adultos jovens (0-40 anos) (6) . Nos países desenvolvidos, a maioria dos portadores de baixa visão são os idosos (8)(9) . Quanto à etiologia da baixa visão, a mais prevalente foi coriorretinite por toxoplasmose (10,4%) o que também foi encontrado por alguns autores em 1998 (2) .…”

“…Um estudo que comparou pacientes maiores de 60 anos, atendidos em serviços público e privado, encontrou o glaucoma e a degeneração macular relacionada à idade como principais causas de baixa visão nos serviços público e privado respectivamente (11) . Em países desenvolvidos a principal causa de VSN em idosos é a DMRI (8)(9) . O telessistema foi o único auxílio óptico prescrito para longe, sendo indicadas para 44% dos pacientes.…”

Visuele beperkingen bij ouderen in Nederland – risicogroepen en mogelijkheden tot interventie

“…[1][2][3] Leeftijd is de grootste risicofactor voor slechtziendheid en blindheid. De belangrijkste oorzaken in de westerse wereld zijn leeftijdsgebonden maculadegeneratie (LMD), cataract (staar), refractie-afwijkingen, glaucoom en diabetische retinopathie.…”