Barriers to uptake of referral eye care services among the elderly in residential care: the Hyderabad Ocular Morbidity in Elderly Study (HOMES)

Unilateral Vision Loss in Elderly People in Residential Care: Prevalence, Causes and Impact on Visual Functioning: The Hyderabad Ocular Morbidity in Elderly Study (HOMES)

PURPOSE

To investigate the prevalence, causes and impact of unilateral visual impairment (UVI) on visual function in the elderly in 'home for the aged' in Hyderabad, India.

METHODS

Participants aged ≥60 years were recruited from 41 'homes for the aged'. All participants had complete eye examinations including visual acuity assessment, refraction, slit-lamp and fundus examination. Unilateral visual impairment (UVI) was defined as presenting VA worse than 6/18 in one eye and presenting VA 6/18 or better in the other eye. Indian Vision Function Questionnaire (INDVFQ) was used for assessing visual functioning.

RESULTS

Of the total 1,513 elderly participants enumerated, 1,182 (78.1%) were examined. After excluding 356 participants with VI in the better eye, data were analysed for the remaining 826 participants. The mean age (standard deviation) of these participants was 74.4 ± 8.4 years; 525 (63.6%) were women, and 111 (13.4%) had no schooling. The prevalence of unilateral VI was 38.1% (95% CI: 34.8-41.5; n = 315). Cataract (37.5%; n = 118) was the leading cause of UVI followed by Uncorrected Refractive Error (22.2%; n = 70) and posterior capsular opacification (18.4%; n = 58). The overall INDVFQ score was higher among those with UVI than those without UVI (37.7 versus 34.5; p < .01) suggestive of poor visual functioning.

CONCLUSIONS

UVI was common and largely due to avoidable causes among the elderly in residential care with an adverse impact on visual functioning. Screening for vision loss in 'homes for the aged' and the provision of appropriate services should become a routine practice to achieve the goal of healthy aging in India.

Impact of an intervention for avoidable vision loss on visual function in the elderly-The Hyderabad Ocular Morbidity in Elderly Study (HOMES)

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

To report the impact of interventions for avoidable vision impairment (VI) on the visual function of elderly residents in 'homes for the aged' in India.

METHODS

Participants aged ≥60 years were recruited. A comprehensive eye examination was conducted by trained examiners and interventions were provided. Trained social investigators administered the Indian Vision Function questionnaire (INDVFQ) to assess visual function before and after the intervention (spectacles, cataract surgery or laser capsulotomy). Lower scores on IVFQ imply better visual function. VI was defined as presenting visual acuity worse than 6/18 in the better eye. VI due to cataract, uncorrected refractive errors, and posterior capsular opacification after cataract surgery were considered avoidable VI.

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants (n = 613) was 73.8 years (standard deviation: 8.1 years) and 378 (62.2%) were women. 64/103 (62.1%) participants who had avoidable VI at baseline were evaluated after the intervention. Significant gains were observed in all four domains of visual function. There was a 14.9% improvement in mobility scores (33.8 versus 28.8; p = 0.03), a 19.9% improvement in the activity limitations score (36.8 versus 29.5; p < 0.01), a 10.9% improvement in the psychosocial impact score (41.1 versus 36.6; p < 0.01) and a 13.6% improvement in the visual symptoms score (49.2 versus 42.5 p < 0.01). Overall, the mean IVFQ score improved by 16.4% (47.6 versus 39.8; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Elderly individuals in residential care with avoidable VI had a significant improvement in visual function after relatively low-cost interventions such as spectacles and cataract surgery. Strategies are needed to provide these interventions for the elderly in 'homes for the aged' in India.