Prevalence of serious eye disease and visual impairment in a north London population: population based, cross sectional study

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the magnitude of serious eye disorders and of visual impairment in a defined elderly population of a typical metropolitan area in England, and to assess the frequency they were in touch with, or known to, the eye care services. Design: Cross sectional survey using two stage cluster random sampling. Setting: General practices in north London. Subjects: Random sample of people aged 65 and older, drawn from a defined population of elderly people registered with 17 general practice groups. Main outcome measures: Proportions and population prevalence estimates were determined for visual acuity, assessed with the person's own spectacles (if any), classified into four categories: prevalence of cataract, age related macular degeneration, and refractive error causing visual impairment and of definite primary open angle glaucoma; and status of contact with eye services. Results: 1547 of 1840 (84%) eligible people were examined. The population prevalence of bilateral visual impairment (visual acuity < 6/12) was 30%, of which 72% was potentially remediable. 92 of these 448 cases (21%) had visual acuity < 6/60 ("blindness") in one or both eyes. Prevalence of cataract causing visual impairment was 30%; 88% of these people were not in touch with the eye services. The prevalence of vision impairing, age related macular degeneration was 8% and of glaucoma (definite cases) was 3%. Three quarters of the people with definite glaucoma were not known to the eye services. Conclusions: Untreated visual impairment and eye disorders affect a substantial proportion of people aged 65 years and older. These findings should contribute to the setting up of future strategies for preservation of sight and eye health services in general.

Prevalence of cataract in the Speedwell Cardiovascular Study: a cross-sectional survey of men aged 65–83

“…In the UK since the early 1980s there have been four cross-sectional surveys of eye disease [2][3][4][5] and two that have dealt with minority groups. 9,10 Uniquely the Speedwell Eye study examined a group of men who have been part of a prospective study of heart disease and stroke.…”

“…1 Surveys reporting the prevalence of cataract in the UK have been undertaken previously. [2][3][4][5] The Framingham study in the US has reported data from a cohort followed for cardiovascular disease, 6 but no similar studies in the UK have examined such a group.…”

Vision-related quality of life impairment in an elderly UK population: Associations with age, sex, social class and material deprivation

“…Several studies have reported associations between lower socio economic status and cataract.2 4 ,2 5 Reidy et al 6 found the age-standardised prevalence of poor vision to be significantly higher in underprivileged areas (identified by Jarman scores) in north London. The main contributory disorders were refractive errors and cataract.…”

Screening for visual impairment in elderly patients with hip fracture: validating a simple bedside test

“…[1][2][3][4][5] Epidemiological studies reveal that between 12 and 30% of persons aged 75 years and older in the United Kingdom have impaired vision [6][7][8] and in many cases these patients are not in contact with either the hospital or community eye services. 8,9 These data suggest that a significant number of patients who sustain a fractured neck of femur after a fall will therefore have impaired vision. They also suggest that in many patients the fall may have been a direct consequence of this visual impairment and furthermore the patient themselves may be unaware of this disability.…”