Prevalence and causes of visual impairment among older persons living in low-income old age homes in Durban, South Africa
Afr. j. prim. health care fam. med. (Online)
; 12(1): 1-7, 2020. tab
Article
in English
| AIM
| ID: biblio-1257714
Responsible library:
CG1.1
ABSTRACT
Background:
Visual impairment (VI) increases with age and has been reported to be more prevalent among older adults living in old age homes than in the general population.Aim:
To determine the prevalence and causes of VI among older adults living in low-income old age homes in Durban, South Africa.Setting:
This study was conducted at low-income old age homes in Durban.Methods:
This cross-sectional study of 118 residents aged 60 years and older, collected socio-demographic data, presenting visual acuities (VAs) for each eye, and binocularly. Anterior segment eye examinations were conducted with a penlight torch and a portable slit-lamp, while posterior segment evaluation was conducted with direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Objective and subjective refractions were performed, and the best-corrected distance and near VAs were measured in each eye. VI was defined as presenting VA < 6/18 and included moderate VI (< 6/18â6/60), severe VI (< 6/60 3/60) and blindness (< 6/120).Results:
The mean age of the participants was 73.3 years and included 80.5% females and 19.5% males. The prevalence of VI and blindness was 63.6%. Optical correction significantly reduced the prevalence of VI and blindness by 19.5% (p < 0.05). The main causes of non-refractive VI and blindness were cataract (54.5%), posterior segment disorders (25.5%) and corneal opacities (20%).Conclusion:
The prevalence of VI and blindness is high among residents in low-income old age homes living in Durban. Refractive correction and surgical cataract intervention can significantly reduce the burden of VI and blindness among the elderly residents
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Index:
AIM (Africa)
Main subject:
Poverty
/
South Africa
/
Vision Disorders
/
Visual Acuity
/
Blindness
/
Prevalence
/
Homes for the Aged
Type of study:
Etiology study
/
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Risk factors
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
English
Journal:
Afr. j. prim. health care fam. med. (Online)
Year:
2020
Type:
Article
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