KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND SELF-CARE PRACTICES ASSOCIATED WITH AGE-RELATED EYE DISEASE IN AUSTRALIA

Aim-To determine the level of correct knowledge about common eye disea se and attitudes towards blindness prevention and treatment, and how t hese factors influence self care practices in a population based sampl e. Methods-A cluster random sample of the Victorian population was int erviewed. The study population comprised residents aged 40 years of ag e or older living in five randomly selected Melbourne metropolitan sub urbs and four randomly selected rural areas of Victoria. Questions wer e asked to ascertain each person's knowledge of common age related eye disease-that is, cataract, age related macular degeneration (AMD), an d glaucoma. A subsample of the population was also asked questions to determine their attitudes to blindness prevention and treatment. All r espondents were asked the year of their last visit to an eye practitio ner. Results-A total of 3184 (89%) eligible residents were assessed. S ex (females), age (younger people), higher levels of education (second ary, trade, or tertiary education), recent visit to an eye practitione r (within the past 2 years) and English spoken at home appeared to be significant predictors of knowledge of common age related eye conditio ns. Younger people believed blindness prevention and blindness treatme nt were the highest priorities compared with other diseases; people wh o spoke English at home and people with knowledge of common age relate d eye disease also considered blindness treatment to be the highest pr iority compared with other diseases. People with a previous diagnosis of age related eye disease, older people, females, people with correct knowledge of common eye diseases, and those who spoke English at home were significantly more likely to be under eye care. No interaction w as found between knowledge and positive attitudes to self care practic es. Conclusion-These data show that there is a large gap in the public 's knowledge and understanding of eye disease that will need to be und erstood for eye health promotion activities.