Current status of age-related eye diseases in elderly population and their visual function and visual-related quality of life

Abstract

Objective To explore the prevalence of age-related eye diseases (AREDs) among people aged 70 years or above in Hangzhou and evaluate the impact of AREDs on visual function (VF) and visual-related quality of life (QOL) in elders. Methods This study involved a total 2 111 elderly people (≥70 years). All participants received visual acuity and comprehensive eye examinations and complete VF and QoL questionnaires. Results The main cause of visual impairment was AREDs. And the causes were age-related cataract (79.82%), AMD (45.64%), glaucoma (10.95%) and diabetic retinopathy (DR, 7.30%). VF and QoL scores declined gradually with age. And the scores declined more rapidly with declined visual acuity among the elders. VF and QoL scores in patients with age-related cataract, AMD, glaucoma and DR were successively lower. After adjusting for age, gender and visual acuity, the elders with AREDs had lower scores across all domains of VF and QoL. Scores for subscales of VF and QoL domains were significantly lower among those with DR and glaucoma compared with those with age-related cataract and AMD. Conclusion Age, presenting vision and AREDs are associated with VF and QoL in this elderly population. And senile people with glaucoma and DR have severe declines in VF and QoL, independent of presenting visual acuity. Key words: Elderly population; Eye diseases, age-related; Visual function; Quality of life