 |
|
Racial Variations in Causes of Vision Loss in Nursing Homes
The Salisbury Eye Evaluation in Nursing Home Groups (SEEING) Study
David S. Friedman, MD, MPH;
Sheila K. West, PhD;
Beatriz Munoz, MSc;
William Park, OD;
James Deremeik, MA;
Robert Massof, PhD;
Kevin Frick, PhD;
Aimee Broman, MS;
Wendy McGill, MHA;
Donna Gilbert, BS;
Pearl German, DSc
Arch Ophthalmol. 2004;122:1019-1024.
Objective To determine the prevalence and causes of low vision in a large sample of nursing home residents.
Methods Twenty-eight nursing homes on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delaware were enrolled in a clinical trial to assess the impact of vision restoration/rehabilitation on nursing home residents. Visual acuity was measured using both recognition charts and preferential looking techniques. An ophthalmologist examined all residents with visual acuity worse than 20/40 in the better-seeing eye and determined the primary cause for decreased vision. Results are reported for the better-seeing eye.
Results Of 2544 eligible residents, 1591 (63%) participated, but 286 residents were unable to respond to visual acuity testing. Of the remaining 1307 residents, 496 (37%) had best-corrected visual acuity worse than 20/40 in the better-seeing eye. Causes were ascribed for 412 subjects. Rates of low vision were similar between African American subjects and white subjects (39% and 38%, respectively; age-adjusted P = .18). Cataract was the leading cause of low vision, responsible for 37% of low vision among white subjects and 54% of low vision among African American subjects. Macular degeneration was responsible for 29% of low vision among white subjects but only 7% among African American subjects. Glaucoma caused low vision in 4% of white subjects and 10% of African American subjects. Refractive error was not a frequent cause of low vision in nursing home residents.
Conclusions Low vision is highly prevalent among nursing home residents, with 37% having visual acuity worse than 20/40 in the better-seeing eye. Differences in causes of low vision between African American subjects and white subjects were noted, with African American subjects more likely to have vision loss on the basis of cataract, a readily treated condition. Appropriate interventions for nursing home residents, who face significant obstacles in accessing eye care services, have the potential to improve the quality of life of this at-risk older population.
From the Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology (Drs Friedman and West and Mss Munoz, Broman, McGill, and Gilbert), Lions Vision Research and Rehabilitation Center (Dr Massof and Mr Deremeik), Wilmer Eye Institute, and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (Drs Frick and German), Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Md.
 CiteULike  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter
What's this?
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
|
Risk of Admission to a Nursing Home Among Older People With Visual Impairment in Great Britain
Evans et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2008;126:1428-1433.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Effect of Refractive Error Correction on Health-Related Quality of Life and Depression in Older Nursing Home Residents
Owsley et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2007;125:1471-1477.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Impact of cataract surgery on health-related quality of life in nursing home residents
Owsley et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 2007;91:1359-1363.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
The Visual Status of Older Persons Residing in Nursing Homes
Owsley et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2007;125:925-930.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Photoprotection of human retinal pigment epithelium cells against blue light-induced apoptosis by melanin free radicals from Sepia officinalis
Seagle et al.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2006;103:16644-16648.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Melanin photoprotection in the human retinal pigment epithelium and its correlation with light-induced cell apoptosis
Seagle et al.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2005;102:8978-8983.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
|
