Detection of vision impairment in people admitted to aged care assessment centres

Vision is not routinely tested when the health of older people is assessed, and the aim of this study was to detect older people with vision impairmen t for referral to appropriate eye care services. People admitted for assess ment and or rehabilitation in three aged care assessment centres had distan ce and near visual acuity assessed with a simplified vision test. A pinhole test was used when necessary. Referral criteria were distance visual acuit y of less than 6 / 12; near vision of less than N8, and people with diabete s who had not attended a dilated fundus examination in the last 2 years. Vi sual acuity results were obtained in 93% of patients (685 / 735). Those una ble to perform the vision test were very ill or had severe cognitive impair ment. Forty-three per cent of patients (266 / 646) had impaired vision and, of these, 70.6% (188 / 266) were referred to eye care specialists. Forty-f ive per cent were referred to ophthalmologists, 36% to optometrists and 20% to low vision services. This significant proportion of patients with poor vision suggests that vision screening is warranted.