Abstract
BackgroundThe risk of visual impairment increases dramatically with age and therefore older adults should have their eyes examined at least every 1 to 2 years. Using a world-wide, population-based dataset, we sought to determine the frequency that older people had their eyes examined. We also examined factors associated with having a recent eye exam.MethodsThe World Health Surveys were conducted in 70 countries throughout the world in 2002-2003 using a random, multi-stage, stratified, cluster sampling design. Participants 60 years and older from 52 countries (n = 35,839) were asked "When was the last time you had your eyes examined by a medical professional?". The income status of countries was estimated using gross national income per capita data from 2003 from the World Bank website. Prevalence estimates were adjusted to account for the complex sample design.ResultsOverall, only 18% (95% CI 17, 19) of older adults had an eye exam in the last year. The rate of an eye exam in the last year in low, lower middle, upper middle, and high income countries was 10%, 24%, 22%, and 37% respectively. Factors associated with having an eye exam in the last year included older age, female gender, more education, urban residence, greater wealth, worse self-reported health, having diabetes, and wearing glasses or contact lenses (p < 0.05).ConclusionsGiven that older adults often suffer from age-related but treatable conditions, they should be seen on a regular basis to prevent visual impairment and its disabling consequences.
Highlights
The risk of visual impairment increases dramatically with age and older adults should have their eyes examined at least every 1 to 2 years
World health survey Study Population The World Health Survey (WHS) was coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) to collect population-based, nationally representative, high quality cross-sectional data from 70 countries within 6 world regions [10]
This paper focuses on the 52 countries that asked about eye care utilization including 18 African countries, 13 European countries, 7 countries from Central and South America, 4 Middle Eastern countries, 5 from Southeast Asia, and 5 from the Western Pacific in 2002-2003
Summary
The risk of visual impairment increases dramatically with age and older adults should have their eyes examined at least every 1 to 2 years. Ophthalmic and optometric organizations recommend that older adults visit an eye care professional every 1-2 years to have a comprehensive eye exam [1,2]. Those with diabetes should visit an eye care professional every year [1,2]. In the United States, 65-69% of adults aged 50 years and older visited an eye care provider in the last year [4]. In Australia, 62% of older Australians visited an eye care professional in the last 2 years [5]. Very few studies examining this issue have been done in low and middle income countries with
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