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Abstract #53920 Published in IGR 15-2
Government-insured routine eye examinations and prevalence of nonrefractive vision problems among elderly
Jin YP; Buys YM; Xiong J; Trope GECanadian Journal of Ophthalmology 2013; 48: 167-172
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether lack of government-insured annual routine eye examinations was associated with reduced vision health status among elderly Canadians. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS: Respondents aged≥65 years in the Canadian Community Health Survey 2000-2001. METHODS: The prevalence of nonrefractive vision problems (i.e., unable to see close or distance when wearing glasses or contact lenses) between Canadians with and without government-insured annual eye examinations was compared. RESULTS: Uninsured white individuals had a greater prevalence rate of vision problems (8.5%; 95% CI 6.8-10.2) than insured white individuals (6.4%; 95% CI 5.2-7.6) if their household incomes were less than the midlevel. In those with household incomes at the midlevel or higher, the prevalence rate was similar between the insured (4.3%) and uninsured (3.6%; p>0.05). Compared with elderly adults in the mid- to high-income level and living in insured provinces, white elderly adults residing in provinces with no insurance had 50% higher odds of reporting vision problems (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.1-2.0) if their income was less than the midlevel, but a 30% lower likelihood of having vision problems if their income was in the midlevel or higher (adjusted OR 0.7; 95% CI 0.6-1.0). The mean age at diagnosis of glaucoma and cataracts was about 2 years older for uninsured versus insured white individuals. Analyses among non-white individuals were not permitted because of small sample size. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of government-funded annual routine eye examinations is associated with increased levels of nonrefractive vision problems among low-income elderly adults.
Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto. Electronic address: yaping.jin@utoronto.ca.
Full articleClassification:
1.6 Prevention and screening (Part of: 1 General aspects)
1.1 Epidemiology (Part of: 1 General aspects)
9.2.2 Other risk factors for glaucoma (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.2 Primary open angle glaucomas)
