Visual acuity and ocular disease in geriatric nursing homes. Study in 219 elderly people in France

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.