UNRECOGNIZED VISUAL PROBLEMS AMONGST RESIDENTS OF PART-III HOMES

A survey of visual function and ophthalmic pathology of 100 residents of three residential homes for elderly people was carried out in Lambe th London. The main pathologies were cataracts detected in half of the subjects (6% were referred for extraction) and chronic simple glaucom a in 17%. Unrecognized significant refraction errors were found in 34% of subjects. Only eight of the 14 residents eligible for blind or par tially sighted registration had been already registered. It is suggest ed that old people entering residential care should have a competent g eriatric or psychogeriatric assessment and, in addition to the annual general practitioner assessment for residents aged 75 and over, regula r ophthalmic evaluation should be offered to residents of homes.