Projected number of Australians with visual impairment in 2000 and 2030

Citation
S. Foran et al., Projected number of Australians with visual impairment in 2000 and 2030, CLIN EXP OP, 28(3), 2000, pp. 143-145
Citations number
11
Categorie Soggetti
Optalmology
Journal title
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL OPHTHALMOLOGY
ISSN journal
14426404 → ACNP
Volume
28
Issue
3
Year of publication
2000
Pages
143 - 145
Database
ISI
SICI code
1442-6404(200006)28:3<143:PNOAWV>2.0.ZU;2-N
Abstract
This study aimed to project population-based prevalence data associated wit h visual impairment, in order to estimate the number of affected older Aust ralians (aged 50 or older) in the years 2000 and 2030. We used data from th e Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) and Melbourne Visual Impairment Project ( MVIP), together with Australian Bureau of Statistics population projections . Similar definitions for moderate (6 / 24-6 / 60 visual acuity) and severe (< 6 / 60 visual acuity) visual impairment were used. Combining age-standa rdized data, we estimated that in the year 2000, 38 820 (0.73%) and 25 590 (0.48%) Australians aged 50 years or older will have moderate and severe vi sual impairment, respectively. By 2030, these rates will have more than dou bled, to an estimated 85 910 (0.92%) and 57 930 (0.62%) Australians with mo derate and severe visual impairment, respectively. Women aged 50 years or o lder will have a 1.8-fold and four-fold risk, respectively, of moderate and severe visual impairment compared to men. Visual impairment will affect an increasing proportion of older Australians. Newer approaches to therapy, r ehabilitation and community support for persons with visual impairment will be needed to meet this challenge.