CORRECTABLE UNDETECTED VISUAL-ACUITY DEFICIT IN PATIENTS AGED 65 AND OVER ATTENDING AN ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

The rate of occurrence of correctable undetected visual acuity deficit (CUVAD) in a population of patients aged 65 and over was investigated , using a pinhole screening method, to compare the sociodemographic an d optical eye care habits of patients with or without a functionally s ignificant CUVAD. Of 136 patients 46 (34%) were found to have a functi onally significant CUVAD in one or both eyes which was not significant ly associated with optician or general practitioner contact, age, sex, social class, living situation, or number of medications. Half the pa tients with significant CUVAD had not attended for 2 years mainly beca use of financial considerations. Three quarters attended of their own volition; only one in seven were prompted by opticians' postal invitat ions. It was concluded that a significant degree of CUVAD could be det ected using a simple procedure which can be carried out by general pra ctitioners as part of their general elderly health screen.