Visual acuity measurements in a national sample of British elderly people

Background-Despite the fact that visual function has an important role in t he quality of life in later years, very few studies have measured visual ac uity in population based nationwide samples of British elderly people. Such measurements were carried out in the context of the national diet and nutr ition survey of people aged 65 years or over (NDNS). Methods-NDNS participants, who were living in 80 different randomly selecte d postcode areas of mainland Britain, were visited at their home by a nurse who measured visual acuity at 3 metres, using the Glasgow acuity card (GAC ) method. In addition, a brief questionnaire related to ocular health was a dministered. Results-Visual acuity was measured in 1362 NDNS participants who were not c lassified as mentally impaired. Visual impairment (using the WHO low vision criteria) was measured in 195 (14.3%) subjects. Prevalence of visual impai rment increased significantly with age (65-74 years 3.1%; 75-84 years 11.6% ; 85+ years 35.5%, p<0.001 for trend). Impaired vision was more common in s ubjects living in a nursing home (odds ratio adjusted for age 2.59 (95% CI 2.23 to 2.96)) and in women (odds ratio adjusted for age 1.55 (95% CI 1.21 to 1.89)). 132 (9.7%) subjects had previously undergone cataract surgery an d another 157 (11.5%) had been told that they currently had cataract. Visio n improved 0.2 log units or more (at least one Snellen line) with the aid o f a pinhole occluder in 289 subjects (21.2%). Conclusion-Results of this nationwide, community based study confirm that p roblems with poor distance visual acuity exist in a substantial part of the elderly community, particularly in women and people living in nursing home s.