M. Taiel-sartral et al., Visual acuity and ocular disease in geriatric nursing homes. Study in 219 elderly people in France, J FR OPHTAL, 22(4), 1999, pp. 431-437
Purpose: To measure the Visual acuity and to determine the etiological caus
es of visual impairment in the elderly residing in nursing homes.
Methods: 219 elderly persons residing in nursing homes were examined in the
residence. The ophthalmological examination consisted in a visual acuity m
easurement, a slit-lamp examination and a fundus examination.
Results: This study included 145 women and 74 men. Mean age was 79.1 years
(range 41-101 years). Visual acuity could be measured in 181 subjects (82.6
%): it was 1/10 or worse in the better eye in 23 of them (13 %)and 2/10 to
3/10 in 36 patients (20 %). In 21 (17.6 %) out of the 119 patients aged ov
er 74 years, visual acuity was 1/10 or worse. in the better eye. Visual imp
airment significantly increased with age (p < 0.05). There was no differenc
e between men and women in the prevalence of Visual impairment. Among the 5
5 subjects with Visual impairment, the main causes of vision loss were: cat
aract in 36 patients (66 %), age-related macular degeneration in 9 patients
(16 %) and optic neuropathies in 5 patients (9 %). Only one (2,8%) out of
the 36 patients with cataract could be operated.
Conclusion : The rate of visual impairment of people in nursing homes was h
igher than in corresponding age groups in the general population. The main
cause of Vision loss was cataract; however, only a few patients could benef
it from an operation. These results confirmed that a systematic ophthalmolo
gic examination should be performed before general health problems prevent
patients from being operated.