Discrepancies in the concordance of self-reported vision status and visual acuity in the Salisbury Eye Evaluation Study

Concordance between Self-Reported Visual Difficulty and Objective Visual Impairment: The National Health and Aging Trends Study

PURPOSE

To examine the performance of self-reported visual difficulty (VD) in predicting objective visual impairment (VI) in older adults and explore factors that influence discordance.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (2022).

METHODS

Participants reporting blindness or difficulties with distance or near vision were characterized as having VD. Presenting binocular distance visual acuity (VA), near VA, and contrast sensitivity (CS) were assessed. Objective VI was defined as having VI in distance VA (worse than 20/40), near VA (worse than 20/40), or CS (worse than 1.55 logCS). Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to compare performance of VD in predicting VI. To investigate factors that influence discordance, we limited our sample to adults with VI and used a multivariable logistic regression model to identify factors associated with not reporting VD. Similar analyses were performed to explore factors associated with reporting VD in adults without VI.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Discordance factors.

RESULTS

Four thousand nine hundred ninety-nine adults were included in the 2022 cohort. Visual difficulty achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 56.0 (95% confidence interval [CI], 55.2-56.9) in predicting VI, with a sensitivity of 15.8 (95% CI, 14.2-17.5) and specificity of 96.3 (95% CI, 95.5-96.9). Characteristics associated with not reporting VD in adults with VI included female gender (odds ratio [OR], 0.64 [95% CI, 0.42-0.99]), Hispanic ethnicity (OR, 0.49 [95% CI, 0.31-0.78), higher income (≥75 000, OR, 1.99 [95% CI, 1.14-3.45]), ≥4 comorbidities (OR, 0.46 [95% CI, 0.29-0.72]), and depressive symptoms (OR, 0.49 [95% CI, 0.25-0.93]). Factors associated with self-reporting VD in the absence of VI included Hispanic ethnicity (OR, 2.11 [95% CI, 1.15-3.86]), higher income (≥$75 000, OR, 0.27 [95% CI, 0.12-0.63]), and anxiety symptoms (OR, 3.05 [95% CI, 1.56-5.97]).

CONCLUSIONS

Self-reported VD is a distinct measure assessing disability and has limited ability in predicting objective VI. Caution is advised when using self-reported VD as a surrogate measure for objective VI in epidemiological studies, although it may still be an effective way to capture risk of current or future disability.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)

Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Physical and Psychosocial Challenges as Predictors of Vision Difficulty in Children: A Nationally Representative Survey Analysis

PURPOSE

To elicit associations between vision difficulties and physical or psychosocial challenges in children in the United States.

METHODS

Children aged 2-17 years old from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey with data pertaining to vision difficulty were included in our retrospective, population-based analysis. Our primary aim was investigating physical and psychosocial challenges as predictors of vision difficulty. Logistic regression models were performed on Stata version 17.0 (StataCorp LLC, College Station, Texas). Analyses were accompanied by an odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

A total of 7,373 children had data pertaining to their level of vision difficulty and were included in our sample. In our multivariable analysis, children with a good/fair (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = [1.31, 2.60], p < 0.01), or poor (OR = 5.08, 95% CI = [1.61, 16.04], p < 0.01) general health status had higher odds of vision difficulty relative to children with an excellent/very good health status. Furthermore, children with difficulties hearing (OR = 8.67, 95% CI = [5.25, 14.31], p < 0.01), communicating (OR = 1.96, 95% CI = [1.18, 3.25], p < 0.01), learning (OR = 1.93, 95% CI = [1.27, 2.93], p < 0.01), and making friends (OR = 1.94, 95% CI = [1.12, 3.36], p = 0.02) had higher odds of vision difficulty. Nonetheless, the following factors were only predictors of vision difficulty in our univariable analysis: requiring equipment for mobility (p < 0.01), experiencing anxiety (p < 0.01), and experiencing depression (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Several factors pertaining to physical and psychosocial challenges in children are associated with vision difficulty. Future research should further explore potential causal links between vision difficulty and physical or psychosocial factors to aid in coordinating public health efforts dedicated to vision health equity.

Vision and hearing problems and psychosocial outcomes: longitudinal evidence from the German Ageing Survey

PURPOSE

To examine whether changes in vision and hearing problems are associated with changes in psychosocial outcomes (in terms of depressive symptoms, loneliness, and perceived social isolation).

METHODS

We used longitudinal data from the nationally representative German Ageing Survey, which covers individuals aged 43 years and over (wave 6 and wave 7, with 7108 observations and mean age of 67.5 years, SD 10.2 years). The 6-item De Jong Gierveld tool was used to quantify loneliness, the Bude and Lantermann tool was used to quantify perceived social isolation, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (15-item version) was used to quantify depressive symptoms. Self-rated problems reading the newspaper due to vision problems and self-rated difficulties recognizing known people on the street due to vision problems were used to quantify vision problems. In addition, self-rated hearing problems on the telephone and self-rated hearing problems in groups of more than four people were used to quantify hearing problems.

RESULTS

Adjusting for various confounders, longitudinal regressions showed that the onset of major vision problems referring to difficulties recognizing people one knows on the street was associated with increases in loneliness (β = 0.17, p < .01) and depressive symptoms (β = 1.90, p < 0.05). Moreover, the onset of some vision problems referring to difficulties reading the newspaper was associated with increases in perceived social isolation (β = 0.06, p < 0.01). Additionally, the onset of some hearing problems in groups of more than four people was associated with increases in depressive symptoms (β = 0.43, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our longitudinal study showed that vision and hearing problems can contribute differently to psychosocial factors. Delaying sensory impairment may result in favorable psychosocial factors in later life.

Associations Between Self-Reported Visual Difficulty, Age of Onset, and Cognitive Function Trajectories Among Chinese Older Adults

Objectives: This study examined the association between self-reported visual difficulty and age-related cognitive declines among older Chinese adults and how the timing of visual difficulty onset plays a role in cognitive trajectories. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2011-2018 wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, involving 9974 respondents aged 60 years or older (mean age 65.44 years, range 60-101 years). Results: At baseline, 14.16% respondents had self-reported visual difficulty. Growth curve models showed that Chinese older adults with visual difficulty experienced a faster decline in cognitive function compared to those without visual difficulty (β = -0.02, p < .01). Older adults who began experiencing visual difficulty between 61 and 75 years of age had steeper cognitive declines compared to those with earlier or later onset (β = -0.05, p < .01). Discussion: Older adults with self-reported visual difficulty experience faster rates of cognitive decline. Future research should explore potential factors that underlie the association between onset timing of visual difficulty and cognitive function.

An Incomplete Model of Disability: Discrepancies Between Performance-Based and Self-Reported Measures of Functioning

BACKGROUND

Appropriate conceptualization and measurement of disability are critical for population-focused resource allocation and policy development. Self-reported and performance-based measures of functioning have been used to represent disability. Variation in environmental context or self-perception of ability may influence self-reports; however, performance-based measures that attempt to control environmental context may not accurately capture real-world aspects of functioning. This study examined the agreement between self-report and performance-based measures of functioning within 4 domains among older adults.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data from the 2021 National Health and Aging Trends Study was used. Self-reported and performance-based measures of functioning were assessed for vision, hearing, mobility, and memory domains. We examined the diagnostic characteristics of performance-based versus self-reported measures using sensitivity, specificity, and receiver operating characteristics curves. Differences in the agreement of these measures across sociodemographic groups were investigated using logistic regression.

RESULTS

Among 2 442 respondents 71 years and older (mean 78.5 ± 5.3, 56% female participants), performance measures of hearing and mobility had high sensitivity (89% and 91%, respectively) and low/moderate specificity (36% and 63%, respectively). The sensitivity and specificity of vision measures were 71%. Memory measures had high specificity (89%) and low sensitivity (28%). Performance-based discrimination ranged from 0.59 (memory) to 0.78 (mobility). Agreement varied across sociodemographic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Performance measures diverge from self-reported functioning among older adults. Discordance may reveal opportunities for environmental intervention where participants' performance does not capture the full extent of barriers in their daily lives. Additional research is needed to investigate individual and environmental factors which could explain the observed differences.

Using Objective Vision Measures to Explore the Association of Vision Impairment With Cognition Among Older Adults in the United States

PURPOSE

To evaluate the association between vision impairment (VI) and cognitive function using objective measures.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional analysis with a nationally representative sample.

METHODS

The association between VI and dementia was investigated in a US population-based, nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries, the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), a nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years, using objective vision measures. Exposures included distance VI (>20/40), near VI (>20/40), contrast sensitivity impairment (CSI) (<1.55), any objective VI (distance and near visual acuity, or contrast), and self-reported VI. The main outcome measure was dementia status defined based on survey reports, interviews, and cognitive tests.

RESULTS

A total of 3026 adults were included in this study; the majority were female (55%) and White (82%). The weighted prevalence rates were 10% for distance VI, 22% for near VI, 22% for CSI, 34% for any objective VI, and 7% for self-reported VI. Across all measures of VI, dementia was more than twice as prevalent in adults with VI compared to their peers without (P < .001 for all). In adjusted models, all measures of VI were associated with higher odds of dementia (distance VI: OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.24-2.44; near VI: OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.29-2.18; CSI: OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.45-2.62; any objective VI: OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.43-2.35; self-reported VI: OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.20-2.89).

CONCLUSIONS

In a nationally representative sample of older US adults, VI was associated with increased odds of dementia. These results suggest that maintaining good vision and eye health may help preserve cognitive function in older age, although more research is needed to investigate the potential benefits of interventions that focus on vision and eye health on cognitive outcomes.

Association of objective and subjective far vision impairment with perceived stress among older adults in six low- and middle-income countries

OBJECTIVES

To assess the association between far vision impairment (objective and subjective) and perceived stress among older adults from six low- and middle-income countries (LMICs, i.e., China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa).

METHODS

Data from the WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health were analyzed. Objective visual acuity was measured using the tumbling E LogMAR chart and was used as a four-category variable (no, mild, moderate, and severe visual impairment). Subjective visual impairment referred to difficulty in seeing and recognizing an object or a person across the road. Using two questions from the Perceived Stress Scale, a perceived stress variable was computed, and ranged from 0 (lowest stress) to 100 (highest stress). Multivariable linear regression with perceived stress as the outcome was conducted.

RESULTS

Data on 14,585 adults aged ≥65 years [mean (SD) age 72.6 (11.5) years; 55.0% females] were analyzed. Only severe objective visual impairment (versus no visual impairment) was significantly associated with higher levels of stress (b = 6.91; 95% CI = 0.94-12.89). In terms of subjective visual impairment, compared with no visual impairment, mild (b = 2.67; 95% CI = 0.56-4.78), moderate (b = 8.18; 95% CI = 5.84-10.52), and severe (b = 11.86; 95% CI = 9.11-14.61) visual impairment were associated with significantly higher levels of perceived stress.

CONCLUSIONS

This large study showed that far vision impairment was associated with increased perceived stress levels among older adults in LMICs. Increased availability of eye care services may reduce stress among those with visual impairment in LMICs, while more research is needed to better characterize the directionality of the far vision impairment-perceived stress relationship.

Self-Reported Vision Impairment and Psychological Distress in U.S. Adults

PURPOSE

Examine the relationship between vision impairment and psychological distress in adults ≥18 years.

METHODS

Using the 2016-2017 cross-sectional, U.S. National Health Interview Survey, we analyzed self-reported data (n = 57,644) on: Kessler psychological distress scores; general vision impairment (GVI), defined as difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses or contacts; and visual function impairment (VFI), measured using six visual function questions. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for mild/moderate and serious psychological distress, by GVI and VFI status, and identify predictors of psychological distress among those with GVI or VFI.

RESULTS

Among adults, 10.6% (95% CI: 10.2, 11.0) had GVI; 11.6% (CI: 11.1, 12.0) had VFI. One in four adults with GVI had psychological distress (14.9% [CI: 13.8, 16.0] reported mild/moderate and 11.2% [CI: 10.2, 12.3] reported serious). Individuals with GVI, versus those without, had higher odds of mild/moderate (aOR = 2.24; CI: 2.00, 2.52) and serious (aOR = 3.41; CI: 2.96, 3.93) psychological distress; VFI had similar findings. Among adults with GVI, odds of serious psychological distress were higher for those aged 18-39 (aOR = 4.46; CI: 2.89, 6.90) or 40-64 (aOR = 6.09; CI: 4.33, 8.57) versus ≥65 years; smokers (aOR = 2.45; CI: 1.88, 3.18) versus non-smokers; physically inactive (aOR = 1.61; CI: 1.22, 2.11) versus active; and with arthritis (aOR = 2.18; CI: 1.66, 2.87) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (aOR = 1.65; CI: 1.15, 2.37) versus without.

CONCLUSION

Adults with self-reported vision impairment had higher odds of psychological distress. These findings may inform screening interventions to address psychological distress, particularly among younger working-age adults vision impairment.

Self-Reported Vision Impairment and Frailty among Older People with Low Cognitive Performance in Central Africa: EPIDEMCA Population-Based Study

INTRODUCTION

Very little is known about the impact of vision impairment (VI) on physical health in late-life in sub-Saharan Africa populations, whereas many older people experience it. We investigated the association between self-reported VI and frailty in Central African older people with low cognitive performance.

METHODS

It was cross-sectional analysis of data from the Epidemiology of Dementia in Central Africa (EPIDEMCA) population-based study. After screening for cognitive impairment, older people with low cognitive performance were selected. Frailty was assessed using the Study of Osteoporotic Fracture index. Participants who met one of the 3 parameters assessed (unintentional weight loss, inability to do 5 chair stands, and low energy level) were considered as pre-frail, and those who met 2 or more parameters were considered as frail. VI was self-reported. Associations were investigated using multinomial logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Out of 2,002 older people enrolled in EPIDEMCA, 775 (38.7%) had low cognitive performance on the screening test. Of them, 514 participants (sex ratio: 0.25) had available data on VI and frailty and were included in the analyses. In total, 360 (70%) self-reported VI. Prevalence of frailty was estimated at 64.9% [95% confidence interval: 60.9%-69.1%] and 23.7% [95% CI: 20.1%-27.4%] for pre-frailty. After full adjustment, self-reported VI was associated with frailty (adjusted odds ratio = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.1-4.3) but not with pre-frailty (adjusted odds ratio = 1.8; 95% CI: 0.9-3.7).

CONCLUSION

In Central African older people with low cognitive performance, those who self-reported VI were more likely to experience frailty. Our findings suggest that greater attention should be devoted to VI among this vulnerable population in order to identify early frailty onset and provide adequate care management.

Association of vision and hearing impairments with quality of life among older adults: Mediation by psychosocial factors

AIM

Vision impairment (VI) and hearing impairment (HI), alone or in combination (dual sensory impairment [DSI]), are common in older adults. We determined (i) the association of vision and hearing, and of VI only, HI only and DSI, with three psychosocial variables (social network, loneliness, depressive symptoms) and with quality of life (QoL), and (ii) whether the considered psychosocial variables mediate the association of VI only, HI only and DSI with QoL among older adults.

METHODS

Cross-sectional survey data for 4077 older adults (≥60 years) from Singapore were analyzed. Those with self-reported fair or poor vision and hearing were considered to have an impairment in that sense. Standard scales were used to assess the psychosocial variables and QoL. Regression and mediation models were used.

RESULTS

Those with fair and poor vs. good, vision and hearing generally had poorer psychosocial outcomes and lower QoL. VI only, HI only and DSI were all associated with lower social network, more depressive symptoms and lower QoL. VI only and DSI were associated with more loneliness. Social network, loneliness and depressive symptoms partially mediated the association of VI only, HI only and DSI with QoL, with depressive symptoms being the strongest mediator.

CONCLUSIONS

VI and HI, particularly in combination, are associated with poorer psychosocial status and QoL among older adults. Older adults with VI or HI should be screened for depressive symptoms and social risks. Improving social network, loneliness and depressive symptoms among older adults with sensory impairments may enhance their QoL. Geriatr Gerontol Int ••; ••: ••-•• Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; ••: ••-••.

Is social participation associated with good self-rated health among visually impaired older adults?: the JAGES cross-sectional study

Background

While it has been recognized that visual impairment is associated with poor self-rated health (SRH), in addition to various negative health outcomes of visual impairment, the number of older adults with visual impairment is increasing due to population aging. As increasing evidence has been found for the effectiveness of social participation on good SRH, we examined whether there was an association between social participation and SRH and investigated whether the effect differed by visual status.

Methods

Questionnaire data on self-reported visual status, social participation, socioeconomic status, and SRH were obtained in 2016. A total of 24,313 community-dwelling individuals aged 65 and over participated. We examined the association of social participation and SRH status among older adults with visual impairment. Stratified analysis and analysis with an interaction term between social participation and visual status were also conducted. Social participation was assessed by the number of participating groups (no participation, one, two, and three or more).

Results

Overall visual impairment prevalence was 9.3% (95% CI: 8.9–9.7). Among those with and without visual impairment, prevalence of poor SRH was 38.4 and 13.1%, respectively. However, the association between social participation with SRH was similar, especially for those who participated in one or two groups. For people with (PR = 0.54) and without visual impairment (PR = 0.50), those who participated in two groups showed lower prevalence ratios for poor SRH compared to people without social participation.

Conclusion

Social participation showed a beneficial association with SRH among older adults with visual impairment. Future interventions could focus on the potentially positive role of social participation on SRH among older adults with visual impairment.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-021-02554-7.

Do You See What Eye See? Measurement, Correlates, and Functional Associations of Objective and Self-Reported Vision Impairment in Aging South Africans

Objectives: Our study investigates measurement, correlates, and functional associations of vision impairment (VI) in an aging population in rural South Africa. Methods: 1582 participants aged 40-69 reported on near (NVI) and distance vision impairment (DVI) and completed objective vision tests. Logistic and linear regression were used to evaluate sociodemographic, health, and psychosocial correlates of VI and assess relationships between VI and cognitive and physical function. Results: VI prevalence was considerably higher according to objective testing (56%) versus self-reports (18%). Older adults were especially likely to underreport impairment. Objective VI was associated with age, education, cardiometabolic disease, and female sex. Conversely, self-reported VI was associated with psychosocial factors. Objective NVI and both types of DVI were associated with worse visual cognition and slower gait speed, respectively. Discussion: Self-reported and objective VI measures should not be used interchangeably in this context. Our findings highlight extensive burden of untreated VI in this region.

Association of vision problems with psychosocial factors among middle-aged and older individuals: findings from a nationally representative study

Objectives: Little is known about the specific association of vision loss and psychosocial outcome measures in contrast to other health limitations. The aim of this study was to identify whether vision problems are associated with psychosocial outcomes among middle-aged and older adults and to compare it with the association between other chronic health conditions and psychosocial factors.Method: Cross-sectional data came from wave 5 (2014) of the German Ageing Survey which is a representative sample of non-institutionalized individuals ≥ 40 years in Germany. Psychosocial outcomes (life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect, depressive symptoms, optimism, general self-esteem, and social isolation) were assessed using well-established and widely used scales. Self-rated trouble reading the newspaper due to vision problems and self-rated difficulties recognizing known people on the street due to vision problems were used as independent variables of interest.Results: Regressions showed that both 'vision problems: reading the newspaper' and 'vision problems: difficulties recognizing people' are consistently associated with worse psychosocial outcomes (decreased life satisfaction, decreased positive affect, increased negative affect, increased depressive symptoms, decreased optimism, decreased self-esteem and increased social isolation). In contrast, none of the physical illnesses was consistently associated with all psychosocial outcome measures.Conclusion: Adjusting for various potential confounders and in contrast to various chronic diseases, our findings emphasize an association between vision problems and worse psychosocial outcomes in middle-aged and older adults. Future longitudinal studies are needed to validate our findings.

Collecting Objective Measures of Visual and Auditory Function in a National in-Home Survey of Older Adults

Maintenance of visual and auditory function is important for preventing the onset of activity limitations and preserving quality of life in later life. To date, national panel studies focused on health and aging have mostly collected subjective (self-reported) measures of visual and auditory function. The National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), a study of Medicare beneficiaries ages sixty-five and older, recently developed a protocol for measuring objective visual and auditory function for its annual, in-home data collection conducted by trained interviewers. The protocol includes three vision tests-distance and near acuity and contrast sensitivity-and one hearing test-pure-tone audiometry-conducted using a tablet platform with results recorded in a scannable booklet. To identify operational issues and evaluate data quality for the proposed set of vision and hearing tests, NHATS incorporated a pilot study into its 2019 round (N = 417 participants and N = 9 interviewers). Using these pilot study data, the objectives of this paper are to: (1) describe the NHATS protocols to collect objective measures of visual and auditory function; (2) evaluate the quality of the data collected; and (3) assess whether results are influenced by interviewers. We found that respondents were highly likely to participate, with cooperation rates for each test about 90 percent. Data were high quality, with low rates of missingness, test results significantly associated with age and self-reported items, and percentages with poor vision or hearing consistent with prior population-based studies. Objective measures were more likely than self-reports to classify participants as having visual and auditory impairments and had stronger relationships with demographic correlates. Interviewer effects were small and not statistically significant in this small sample. Results of this study have demonstrated that objective visual and auditory functioning can be successfully incorporated into an interviewer-administered home-based protocol.

Predicting response of ischemic central retinal vein occlusion to bevacizumab injections: 1 year follow-up

PURPOSE

To identify baseline optical coherence tomography (OCT) factors in ischemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) that predict response to bevacizumab injections.

METHODS

Patients underwent OCT at diagnosis and the central macular thickness, subretinal fluid width and height as well as the presence of intraretinal cysts were measured. The extent of disorganized retinal inner layers, outer plexiform layer (OPL), external limiting membrane, ellipsoid zone and cone outer segment tips (COST) was recorded. Patients received three consecutive monthly injections of bevacizumab followed by pro re nata treatment.

RESULTS

Overall 32 eyes of 32 patients aging 69.4 ± 12.7 years were included. In univariate correlational analyses baseline OPL disruption (- 41, p = 0.02), EZ disruption (r = - 0.36, p = 0.05) and COST disruption (r = - 0.37, p = 0.04) correlated with deterioration in BCVA at 1 year. Partial least squares demonstrated that the factors most largely associated with deterioration in BCVA were COST disruption and OPL disruption followed by EZ disruption, while worst vision at baseline was associated with improvement in vision.

CONCLUSION

In patients with ischemic CRVO treated with bevacizumab, BCVA improvement at 1 year can be partially predicted from baseline OCT measurements by the extent of COST, OPL and EZ disruption.

A Review of Capture-recapture Methods and Its Possibilities in Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences

Epidemiological information is expected to be used to develop key aspects of eye care such as to control and minimise the impact of diseases, to allocate resources, to monitor public health actions, to determine the best treatment options and to forecast the consequence of diseases in populations. Epidemiological studies are expected to provide information about the prevalence and/or incidence of eye diseases or conditions. To determine prevalence is necessary to perform a cross-sectional screening of the population at risk to ascertain the number of cases. The aim of this review is to describe and evaluate capture-recapture methods (or models) to ascertaining the number of individuals with a disease (e.g. diabetic retinopathy) or condition (e.g. vision impairment) in the population. The review covers the fundamental aspects of capture-recapture methods that would enable non-experts in epidemiology to use it in ophthalmic studies. The review provides information about theoretical aspects of the method with examples of studies in ophthalmology in which it has been used. We also provide a problem/solution approach for limitations arising from the lists obtained from registers or other reliable sources. We concluded that capture-recapture models can be considered reliable to estimate the total number of cases with eye conditions using incomplete information from registers. Accordingly, the method may be used to maintain updated epidemiological information about eye conditions helping to tackle the lack of surveillance information in many regions of the globe.

Online Survey of Digital Reading by Adults with Low Vision

SIGNIFICANCE

Access to digital text is increasingly widespread, but its impact on low-vision reading is not well understood.

PURPOSE

We conducted an online survey of people with low vision to determine what assistive technologies they use for visual reading, their preferred text characteristics, and the time they devote to reading digital and hard-copy text.

METHODS

One hundred thirty-three low-vision participants completed an online survey. Participants reported the nature and history of their low vision, their usage of different assistive technologies, and time devoted to five visual reading activities.

RESULTS

The three largest diagnostic categories were albinism (n = 36), retinitis pigmentosa (n = 20), and glaucoma (n = 15). Mean self-reported acuity was 0.93 logMAR (range, 0.1 to 1.6 logMAR). Mean age was 46 years (range, 18 to 98 years). Participants reported on percentage time spent reading using vision, audio, or touch (braille). Seventy-five percent of our participants did more than 50% of their reading visually. Across five categories of reading activities-work or education, news, pleasure, spot reading, and social networking-participants reported more time spent on digital reading than hard-copy reading. Eighty-nine percent of our participants used at least one technology from each of our two major categories of assistive technologies (digital content magnifiers and hard-copy content magnifiers) for visual reading.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the growing availability of digital text in audio or braille formats, our findings from an online sample of people with low vision indicate the continuing importance of visual reading. Our participants continue to use technology to access both hard-copy and digital text, but more time is devoted to digital reading. Our findings highlight the need for continued research and development of technology to enhance visual reading accessibility.

Visual Impairment and Frailty: Examining an Understudied Relationship

BACKGROUND

Older adults with visual impairments are at increased risk of negative health outcomes. Here, we investigate the association between visual impairment and frailty.

METHODS

Cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between visual impairment (distance visual acuity) and frailty (frailty phenotype criteria) were examined using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 1999-2002, ≥60 years) and the Women's Health and Aging Studies (WHAS III). Imbalance of potential confounders, particularly age, was addressed using propensity score-based adjustment. Multinomial logistic regression determined the odds of prefrailty and frailty at baseline in NHANES and ordinal logistic regression examined the odds of baseline and incident frailty over 3 years in WHAS III after adjustment for confounders and probability weighting (survey weights × inverse propensity scores).

RESULTS

In NHANES (n = 2,639, 9% vision impairment), participants with visual impairment were more likely to be prefrail (odds ratio [OR] = 3.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.9-5.3) and frail (OR = 3.7; 95% CI: 1.5-9.2) than those without visual impairment. In WHAS III (n = 796, 26% mild, 37% moderate/severe vision impairment), participants with mild and moderate/severe vision impairment were more likely to be frail (OR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.5-2.5; OR = 5.5; 95% CI: 4.2-7.2, respectively). A one-line worse visual acuity (0.1 logMAR increase) was associated with greater odds of frailty (OR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.4-1.7). Of those non-frail at baseline (n = 549), moderate/severe visual impairment and one-line worse visual acuity was associated with greater odds of incident frailty (OR = 3.5; 95% CI: 1.4-8.4; OR = 1.3; 95% CI: 1.1-1.5, respectively) over 3 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Visual impairment may be an important, yet understudied risk factor for frailty.

Changes in physical activity predict changes in a comprehensive model of balance in older community-dwelling adults. A longitudinal analysis of the TILDA study

Objective:

Falls due to poor balance can cause injury, disability, and death in older adults. The relationship between free-living physical activity (PA) and balance over time is poorly understood. The aim of this study is to explore the association between PA and balance in older adults over time

Methods:

Using two waves of data from the TILDA study (n=8,504 participants) a structural equation model was used to identify a composite measure of balance that incorporated measures of Timed Up and Go; handgrip strength; Mini Mental State Exam; vision; hearing; and steadiness. The patterns of change in PA and balance were then compared over time (controlling for covariates)

Results:

The results showed that one extra metabolic equivalent of task (MET) minute of PA improves balance by 4% over one week (Est=-0.10, SE=0.12), and by 5% cumulatively over two years (Est=-0.13, SE=0.02). Medication, alcohol consumption, sex, age, fear of falling, education, pain, and problems performing activities of daily living (ADL) were risk factors for balance

Conclusion:

This study provides a novel and robust model that should guide comprehensive balance assessment. PA promotion should engage older adults in more free-living PA that may be more relevant to them.

Disparities in Low-Vision Device Use Among Older US Medicare Recipients

Importance

Low-vision assistive devices are not covered by Medicare and many private insurers, although there is evidence that they can improve functioning and quality of life. Little is known about whether sociodemographic disparities exist in the use of low-vision services by Medicare beneficiaries.

Objective

To determine if sociodemographic disparities exist in the use of low-vision services by Medicare beneficiaries.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Cross-sectional population-based survey. The National Health Interview Survey is an annually administered nationally representative US survey. Data used in this study were from the 2002, 2008, and 2016 National Health Interview Survey vision supplement. Participants who were Medicare beneficiaries 65 years and older with self-reported vision impairment were included.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Multivariable logistic regression was performed to evaluate if sociodemographic or economic factors were associated with self-reported use of low-vision devices or low-vision rehabilitation among Medicare beneficiaries 65 years and older who self-reported vision impairment.

Results

There were 3058 participants included in the study. The survey weighted proportion of participants who were men was 37.9% (95% CI, 35.8%-40.0%), while 79.1% (95% CI, 77.2%-80.9%) were non-Hispanic white, 10.2% (95% CI, 9.0%-11.5%) were non-Hispanic black, 6.7% (95% CI, 5.6%-8.1%) were Hispanic, and 4.0% (95% CI, 3.2%-5.0%) identified with another race/ethnicity. The weighted proportion who reported using low-vison devices and low-vision rehabilitation were 26.1% (95% CI, 24.2%-28.1%) and 3.5% (95% CI, 2.8%-4.3%), respectively. In a model adjusted for ocular diagnoses, Hispanic individuals (odds ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.39-0.97) and individuals from other races/ethnicities (odds ratio, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.19-0.80), but not black individuals, were significantly less likely to report using low-vision devices than white individuals. In the model that was not adjusted for ocular diagnoses, black individuals (odds ratio, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.54-0.99) were also significantly less likely to report using low-vision devices. There were no significant racial/ethnic disparities for reported use of low-vision rehabilitation.

Conclusions and Relevance

Additional research is needed to clarify the association between sociodemographics and use of low-vision services in the Medicare population. However, policy makers could consider expanding Medicare coverage to include low-vision devices in an effort to address significant disparities in the use of this evidence-based intervention.

[Self-reported vision in (gerontological) health services research and practice-an opening plea]

The use of self-reported vision is an integral part of most population surveys and is primarily used for healthcare monitoring. Since the patient's assessment is not always consistent with the objectively measured clinical parameters, the majority of the literature looks critically at the adequacy of self-reported vision, particularly with respect to answering epidemiological questions; however, it is often misunderstood that self-reported vision measures far more than the directly derived information show. This article shows the complexity of self-reported vision and discusses the importance of health services research and practice, with a special focus on the topic of vision in old age. From the explanations it becomes clear that the self-estimation of vision by a person is determined by various factors apart from the pure organ function and that the need for action and diagnostic conclusions can only be derived from self-reports. This is essential if vision is to be understood as a multifactorial condition and empirically practiced using different survey instruments. The article shows that self-reported vision is a good indicator of the quality of care in its entirety.

Visual Acuity and Self-Reported Vision Status

OBJECTIVES

This study examined the associations of two measures of vision impairment (i.e., a clinical measure of visual acuity and self-reported vision status) and social isolation in a nationally representative sample of Americans aged 60 and older.

METHOD

Five cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES IV; 1999-2008) were used to estimate successive logistic regression models, holding constant demographic characteristics, chronic illness, functional limitations, and disability.

RESULTS

Effects of both measures of vision impairment in predicting social isolation were substantially reduced or eliminated in adjusted models. Where significant effects of vision impairment on social isolation remained, a strong effect was found for self-reported poor vision (odds ratio = 1.53; 95% confidence interval = [1.08, 2.16]).

DISCUSSION

As one of the better vision-related predictors of social isolation, self-reported vision is among the easiest and inexpensive to assess. The use of self-reported vision as a screening criterion for social isolation is discussed.

Trail Making Test performance contributes to subjective judgment of visual efficiency in older adults

Introduction. The determinant factors that influence self-reported quality of vision have yet to be fully elucidated. This study evaluated a range of contextual information, established psychophysical tests, and in particular, a series of cognitive tests as potentially novel determinant factors.

Materials & Methods. Community dwelling adults (aged 50+) recruited to Wave 1 of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, excluding those registered blind, participated in this study (N = 5,021). Self-reports of vision were analysed in relation to visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, ocular pathology, visual (Choice Response Time task; Trail Making Test) and global cognition. Contextual factors such as having visited an optometrist and wearing glasses were also considered. Ordinal logistic regression was used to determine univariate and multivariate associations.

Results and Discussion. Poor Trail Making Test performance (Odds ratio, OR = 1.36), visual acuity (OR = 1.72) and ocular pathology (OR = 2.25) were determinant factors for poor versus excellent vision in self-reports. Education, wealth, age, depressive symptoms and general cognitive fitness also contributed to determining self-reported vision.

Conclusions. Trail Making Test contribution to self-reports may capture higher level visual processing and should be considered when using self-reports to assess vision and its role in cognitive and functional health.

Association of Socioeconomic Position With Sensory Impairment Among US Working-Aged Adults

OBJECTIVES

We examined the relationship between socioeconomic position (SEP) and sensory impairment.

METHODS

We used data from the 2007 to 2010 National Health Interview Surveys (n = 69 845 adults). Multivariable logistic regressions estimated odds ratios (ORs) for associations of educational attainment, occupational class, and poverty-income ratio with impaired vision or hearing.

RESULTS

Nearly 20% of respondents reported sensory impairment. Each SEP indicator was negatively associated with sensory impairment. Adjusted odds of vision impairment were significantly higher for farm workers (OR = 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01, 2.02), people with some college (OR = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.16, 1.44) or less than a high school diploma (OR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.19, 1.55), and people from poor (OR = 1.35; 95% CI = 1.20, 1.52), low-income (OR = 1.28; 95% CI = 1.14, 1.43), or middle-income (OR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.07, 1.31) families than for the highest-SEP group. Odds of hearing impairment were significantly higher for people with some college or less education than for those with a college degree or more; for service groups, farmers, and blue-collar workers than for white-collar workers; and for people in poor families.

CONCLUSIONS

More research is needed to understand the SEP-sensory impairment association.

Association between visual impairment and sleep duration: analysis of the 2009 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

Background

Visual impairment (VI) is associated with increased mortality and health factors such as depression and cardiovascular disease. Epidemiologic studies consistently show associations between sleep duration with adverse health outcomes, but these have not systematically considered the influence of VI. The aim of this study was to ascertain the independent association between VI and sleep duration using the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data. We also examined whether race/ethnicity influenced these associations independently of sociodemographic and medical characteristics.

Methods

Our analysis was based on the 2009 NHIS, providing valid sleep and vision data for 29,815 participants. The NHIS is a cross-sectional household interview survey utilizing a multistage area probability design. Trained personnel from the US census bureau gathered data during face-to-face interview and obtained socio-demographic, self-reported habitual sleep duration and physician-diagnosed chronic conditions.

Results

The mean age of the sample was 48 years and 56% were female. Short sleep and long sleep durations were reported by 49% and 23% of the participants, respectively. Visual impairment was observed in 10%. Multivariate-adjusted logistic regression models showed significant associations between VI and short sleep (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.5-1.9 and long sleep durations (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.3-1.9). These associations persisted in multivariate models stratified by race-ethnic groups.

Conclusion

Visual impairment was associated with both short and long sleep durations. Analysis of epidemiologic sleep data should consider visual impairment as an important factor likely to influence the amount of sleep experienced habitually.

Health-related quality of life among people aged ≥65 years with self-reported visual impairment: findings from the 2006-2010 behavioral risk factor surveillance system

PURPOSE

To examine the association between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and visual impairment among people aged ≥65 years.

METHODS

We used cross-sectional data from the 2006-2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to examine six HRQoL measures: self-reported health, physically unhealthy days, mentally unhealthy days, activity limitation days, life satisfaction, and disability. Visual impairment was categorized as no, a little, and moderate/severe. We examined the association between self-reported visual impairment and HRQoL using logistic regression accounting for the survey's complex design.

RESULTS

People with self-reported moderate/severe visual impairment had more frequent (≥14) physically unhealthy days, mentally unhealthy days, and activity limitation days in the last 30 days compared to those reporting a little or no visual impairment. After controlling for all covariates (age, sex, marital status, race/ethnicity, education, income, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, heart attack, body mass index, leisure time activity, smoking, and medical care cost concerns) and comparing to those with no self-reported visual impairment, people reporting a little visual impairment were more likely to have fair/poor health (odds ratio, OR, 1.2, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.1-1.3), life dissatisfaction (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.3-2.0), and disability (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.3-1.6), and those with self-reported moderate/severe visual impairment had more fair/poor health (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.6-2.0), life dissatisfaction (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.8-2.9), and disability (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.8-2.2). They also had more frequent physically unhealthy days (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.7-2.1), mentally unhealthy days (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.5-2.1), and activity limitations days (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.6-2.2).

CONCLUSION

Poor HRQoL is strongly associated with the severity of self-reported visual impairment among people aged ≥65 years.

Assessment of a rapid method to determine approximate visual acuity in large surveys and other such settings

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy of an iPod application developed to rapidly measure approximate visual acuity (VA).

DESIGN

Prospective, cross-sectional study.

METHODS

One hundred four subjects (104 eyes) with a wide range of VA underwent both Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) VA testing and iPod application testing. The application presented 4 randomized ETDRS letters at the Snellen equivalent of 20/40 and 20/200 each. In separate analyses, sensitivity and specificity of the iPod test were determined using the ETDRS VA testing results as the gold standard and defining "failure" to see as identifying 1, 2, 3, or all 4 letters incorrectly out of 4 trials. The minimum number of iPod trials necessary to maintain high accuracy was determined by defining a "failure" as getting the first, first 2, first 3, or all trial letters incorrect. In 13 subjects, the time necessary to perform the testing was determined.

RESULTS

Forty-six subjects had an ETDRS Snellen equivalent VA ≥20/40; 45 had a VA <20/40 and ≥20/200; and 13 had a VA <20/200. The mean ± SD testing time for the 3 groups was 43 ± 13, 60 ± 15, and 72 ± 25 seconds, respectively. The highest sensitivity and specificity combination was observed when a "failure" was defined as getting all letters incorrect for both the 20/40 (sensitivity = 98.3%/specificity = 93.5%) and 20/200 (sensitivity/specificity both 92.3%) cutoffs.

CONCLUSIONS

An iPod application requiring about a 1-minute testing time provides an objective, portable, rapid, and low-cost method to determine approximate VA, allowing VA testing to be performed efficiently in large surveys and other settings where approximate VA should be measured.

Visual acuity, self-reported vision and falls in the EPIC-Norfolk Eye study

PURPOSE

To examine the relationship between visual acuity (VA) and self-reported vision (SRV) in relation to falls in 8317 participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer-Norfolk Eye study.

METHODS

All participants completed a health questionnaire that included a question regarding SRV and questions regarding the number of falls in the past year. Distance VA was measured using a logMAR chart for each eye. Poor SRV was defined as those reporting fair or poor distance vision. The relationship between VA and SRV and self-rated falls was analysed by logistic regression, adjusting for age, sex, physical activity, body mass index, chronic disease, medication use and grip strength.

RESULTS

Of 8317 participants, 26.7% (95% CI 25.7% to 27.7%) had fallen in the past 12 months. Worse VA and poorer SRV were associated with one or more falls in multivariable analysis (OR for falls=1.31, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.66 and OR=1.32, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.61, respectively). Poorer SRV was significantly associated with falls even after adjusting for VA (OR=1.28, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.57).

CONCLUSIONS

SRV was associated with falls independently of VA and could be used as a simple proxy measure for other aspects of visual function to detect people requiring vision-related falls interventions.

Associations between self-rated vision score, vision tests, and self-reported visual function in the Salisbury Eye Evaluation Study

PURPOSE

We attempt to understand the determinants of self-rated vision status by examining associations with vision tests, self-reported visual function, demographic, and health-status characteristics.

METHODS

Participants included 2467 individuals, aged 65 to 84 years, in a longitudinal, population-based cohort study. Participants rated their vision status from 0 to 10. Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, stereoacuity, and visual fields were assessed. The Activities of Daily Vision Scale (ADVS) questionnaire was administered. Multivariate ordinal and multinomial logistic-regression models examined the association of demographic, health-status characteristics, vision tests, and ADVS subscales with self-rated vision status score. Odds ratios described the association of these characteristics with reporting better vision status.

RESULTS

Better visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, stereoacuity, and visual fields were associated with increased odds of reporting better vision status. Among the vision tests, a 2-line increase in visual acuity was most likely to result in an individual reporting better vision status (odds ratio, 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30-1.70). A 5-point increase in the near vision and far vision ADVS subscale scores was associated with increased odds of reporting good versus poor vision status. A 5-point increase in the near vision subscale was most likely to result in an individual reporting good versus poor vision status (odds ratio, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.28-1.50).

CONCLUSIONS

Self-rated vision status is a multidimensional measure. Near-vision visual function, visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity are important determinants of self-rated vision status in an elderly population. This understanding may improve the ability of eye care providers to maximize self-rated vision status among their patients.