BACKGROUND: To assess the need for, and the use of eye care services in older people seeking aged care. METHODS: In total, 188 people (69.1% of those eligible) aged 65+ years who were assessed for aged care provision at Westmead Hospital, Sydney, were recruited in 2003 and re-examined a year later. At baseline, presenting visual acuity (VA) was randomly assessed in half the participants. People with under-corrected refractive error (pinhole VA improved at least 10 letters in those with presenting VA <6/6), bilateral visual impairment (better eye VA <6/12), or self-reported visual problems, were recommended to have further assessment by eye care professionals. At follow up, information on utilization of eye care services in the past 12 months was collected and VA was assessed in all returned participants. RESULTS: Of the 188 baseline participants, 121 (70% of survivors) were revisited a year later. Overall, 90/121 participants (74%) had seen an eye care professional in the previous year. Of the 66 participants who were recommended to see an eye care professional, 42 (64%) were revisited and 37/42 (88%) complied with the recommendation. At revisit, bilateral visual impairment was found in 49/120 (41%). The proportion with bilateral visual impairment was lower in participants whose vision was assessed at baseline (35%) than in those whose vision was not assessed (47%, P = 0.17), and also lower among people who had visited an eye care professional during the previous 12 months (39%) than those who had not (45%, P = 0.57). CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study indicates a relatively high need for, and high utilization of eye care services in the subgroup of older people seeking aged care services.
BACKGROUND: To assess the need for, and the use of eye care services in older people seeking aged care. METHODS: In total, 188 people (69.1% of those eligible) aged 65+ years who were assessed for aged care provision at Westmead Hospital, Sydney, were recruited in 2003 and re-examined a year later. At baseline, presenting visual acuity (VA) was randomly assessed in half the participants. People with under-corrected refractive error (pinhole VA improved at least 10 letters in those with presenting VA <6/6), bilateral visual impairment (better eye VA <6/12), or self-reported visual problems, were recommended to have further assessment by eye care professionals. At follow up, information on utilization of eye care services in the past 12 months was collected and VA was assessed in all returned participants. RESULTS: Of the 188 baseline participants, 121 (70% of survivors) were revisited a year later. Overall, 90/121 participants (74%) had seen an eye care professional in the previous year. Of the 66 participants who were recommended to see an eye care professional, 42 (64%) were revisited and 37/42 (88%) complied with the recommendation. At revisit, bilateral visual impairment was found in 49/120 (41%). The proportion with bilateral visual impairment was lower in participants whose vision was assessed at baseline (35%) than in those whose vision was not assessed (47%, P = 0.17), and also lower among people who had visited an eye care professional during the previous 12 months (39%) than those who had not (45%, P = 0.57). CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study indicates a relatively high need for, and high utilization of eye care services in the subgroup of older people seeking aged care services.
Authors: Brenda J Wilson; Susan Courage; Maria Bacchus; James A Dickinson; Scott Klarenbach; Alejandra Jaramillo Garcia; Nicki Sims-Jones; Brett D Thombs Journal: CMAJ Date: 2018-05-14 Impact factor: 8.262
Authors: Kieran S O'Brien; Valerie M Stevens; Raghunandan Byanju; Ram Prasad Kandel; Gopal Bhandari; Sadhan Bhandari; Jason S Melo; Travis C Porco; Thomas M Lietman; Jeremy D Keenan Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2020-10-15 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Samia Djemâa Mechakra-Tahiri; Ellen E Freeman; Slim Haddad; Elodie Samson; Maria Victoria Zunzunegui Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2012-08-02 Impact factor: 3.295