Vision rehabilitation in elderly patients aged 80 years or over: Epidemiological profile and prescription of optical, nonoptical, and electronic devices

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the epidemiological profile and prescription of optical, nonoptical, and electronic devices in the elderly aged 80 years or older, in a low-vision rehabilitation center in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Methods: This is a retrospective, observational, descriptive study held in a low-vision rehabilitation center in Belo Horizonte, from 1992 to 2016. A total of 448 medical records were analyzed and 375 (83.7%) were included. Age, gender, occupation, diagnosis, ocular and systemic diseases associated, best-corrected visual acuity, refractive error, goal to be achieved, optical, nonoptical, and electronic devices, and visual hallucination were considered. Results: Of the 375 medical record evaluated, 310 (82.6%) cases were of patients aged 80–89 years old, 218 cases (58.1%) were female and 262 cases (69.8%) were of retired patients. The age-related macular degeneration was the most prevalent disease, 296 (78.9%), followed by glaucoma in 31 patients (8.2%) and diabetic retinopathy in 9 (2.4%). Low myopia was the most prevalent refractive error, present in 148 (39.4%). A severe visual loss occurred in 145 patients (38.6%) while reading was the main goal, with 339 cases (90.4%). Optical and/or electronic devices were prescribed to 361 patients (96.2%), in a total of 418 optical and 66 electronic devices. Among the electronic devices, video magnifiers (CCTV) were indicated for 37 patients (9.8%) and handheld electronic magnifiers for 29 patients (7.7%). Visual hallucinations were reported in 11 cases (2.9%). Conclusions: This study shows that vision rehabilitation is possible in the elderly.