Refractive errors and visual acuity impairment among self-selected Hispanic, white, and black adults examined by the UCLA Mobile Eye Clinic.

BACKGROUND: Occurrence of refractive errors and uncorrected visual acuity impairment among self-selected, indigent, medically underserved Hispanic, white, and black adults examined by the staff of the UCLA Mobile Eye Clinic (MEC) are described in this study and compared to population-based studies. METHODS: The study sample consisted of all 2,970 Hispanic, 1,228 white, and 1,028 black participants, for a total of 5,226 self-selected adults, ages 25 to 74 years, who received vision screenings and eye examinations by the staff of the UCLA MEC from 1987 to 1997. Tests consisted of visual acuity, refractive error, intraocular pressure, retinoscopy, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, direct ophthalmoscopic examination, and indirect ophthalmoloscopy with pupillary dilation. Levels of visual acuity impairment were defined as mild (20/50-20/80), moderate (20/100), or severe (20/200 or worse) in either eye. RESULTS: Self-selected whites in this study had higher rates of astigmatism, anisometropia, and hyperopia, while myopia was higher among self-selected blacks. Myopia and hyperopia occurred more frequently among younger age groups for all ethnic groups. Whites had a higher occurrence of mild, moderate, and severe visual acuity impairment, as compared with Hispanics and blacks. CONCLUSIONS: Both refractive errors and impaired visual acuity of this self-selected sample are similar to those of adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and the Baltimore Eye Survey. The data presented in this study provide a crude estimate of the occurrence of refractive errors and impaired visual acuity among self-selected, medically underserved, indigent Hispanic, white, and black adults in the Los Angeles area.

Prevalences of ocular conditions among Hispanic, white, Asian, and black immigrant students examined by the UCLA Mobile Eye Clinic.

BACKGROUND: First-and second-generation immigrant children are the fastest-growing component of the U.S. population under 15 years of age. Prevalences of ocular conditions in first-generation immigrant children are described, stratified by ethnicity and sex, and compared to previous UCLA Mobile Eye Clinic (MEC) studies and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. METHODS: Clinical data from 2,229 newly immigrated students, ages 8 to 16 years of age, examined by the UCLA Mobile Eye Clinic from 1990-1996, were analyzed by chi-squares test. RESULTS: Females have significantly higher prevalences of astigmatism (p = 0.003) and myopia (p = 0.001) than males. Asians have significantly higher prevalences of myopia (p < 0.001) and visual acuity worse than 20/40 without correction (p < 0.001) than Hispanics. CONCLUSIONS: Overall ocular health of this sample is very close to that of age-matched U.S. children, but with markedly lower prevalences of extraocular muscle imbalance and color vision deficiencies. Examiners should be aware of the higher rate of astigmatism and myopia in first-generation female immigrants, as well as the higher prevalence of myopia among Asians.

A retrospective study of eye disease among first grade children in Los Angeles.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of ocular disease among children in one school district in Los Angeles, California was studied to better understand the types of eye disorders among this population as well as to develop appropriate preventive programs. METHODS: A computer-assisted retrospective analysis of date was performed from charts of 2,204 first grade children examined in the UCLA Mobile Eye Clinic. RESULTS: One or more ocular disorders were observed in 22.3 percent of the subjects. Uncorrected best monocular visual acuity was 20/40 or worse in 3.4 percent of the children. Refractive errors were diagnosed in 15.7 percent of the subjects, astigmatism in 7.6 percent, hyperopia in 6.2 percent, and myopia in 6.0 percent. Color vision deficiencies (red-green) were found in 2.6 percent of boys. The prevalences of heterophorias and heterotropias were 1.2 percent and 1.3 percent, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The variety of ocular disorders diagnosed in this demographic setting attests to the importance of performing early and effective screening eye examinations for children.