Eye care utilization by older Americans - The SEE project

Objective: To determine eye care utilization patterns among older Americans , particularly characterizing those who sought different types of providers , and the predictive factors for seeking eye care services in general and a mong those with diabetes and those with visual loss. Design and Participants: The SEE Project, a population-based survey of 2520 persons aged 65 to 84 in Salisbury, Maryland, provided cross-sectional dat a on eye care use. Questions on eye care use, demographics, medical history , and other factors were asked on the home interview. Main Outcome Measures: Use of an eye care provider in the previous year, wi th additional outcomes of use of different types of eye care providers, Results: Blacks were significantly less likely to see any type of eye care provider over 1 year: 50% versus 69% among whites. Those who reported havin g a vision problem, those with more education, and those in the older age g roups were significantly more likely to see either an ophthalmologist or an optometrist. Diabetes and driving a car were predictive factors for seeing an ophthalmologist but not for seeing an optometrist. Self-report of diabe tes and eye care problems, and being a current driver, were predictive of s eeing an eye care professional among those with visual impairment. Conclusions: Although blacks are known to be at greater risk for several ag e-related eye diseases, they are much less likely to see an eye care provid er. Interventions that remove barriers to eye care services should be consi dered.