A cross-sectional study of visual impairment in elderly population in residential care in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh: a cross-sectional study.
| Autor: | Marmamula S; Allen Foster Community Eye Health Research Centre, International Centre for Advancement of Rural Eye care, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India., Ravuri CS, Boon MY, Khanna RC |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Zdroj: | BMJ open [BMJ Open] 2013 Mar 15; Vol. 3 (3). Date of Electronic Publication: 2013 Mar 15. |
| DOI: | 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-002576 |
| Abstrakt: | Objective: To assess the prevalence and major causes of visual impairment (VI) in elderly residents of 'home for the aged' institutions in the Prakasam district in India. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: 'Home for the aged' institutions in the Prakasam district in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Participants: All 524 residents in the 26 'homes for aged' institutions in the district were enumerated. Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures: Prevalence and causes of VI; visual acuity (VA) was assessed using a Snellen chart at a distance of 6 m. Pinhole VA was assessed if presenting VA was <6/18. Torchlight examination and direct ophthalmoscopy were performed. VI was defined as presenting VA <6/18 in the better eye. Results: Of the 494 participants examined (response rate 94.3%), 78.1% were women, 72.1% had no formal schooling. The mean age of participants was 70 years (SD ±8.6 years). VI was present in 280/494 individuals (56.9%; 95% CI 52.3 to 61.3). Over 80% of the VI was due to avoidable causes including cataract (57.1%) and uncorrected refractive errors (26.4%). Among 134 individuals who had undergone bilateral cataract surgery, only 78 (58.2%) individuals had presenting VA ≥6/18 and 13/134 (9.7%) participants were blind. Conclusions: There is high prevalence of VI in the institutionalised elderly population in the Prakasam district in India. A significant proportion of this elderly population with VI can benefit from spectacles and cataract surgery. Strategies are required to provide high-quality services to this population. |
| Databáze: | MEDLINE |
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