Five-year change in visual acuity and incidence of visual impairment: the Blue Mountains Eye Study.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To describe the 5-year change in visual acuity and the incidence of visual impairment in a population-based cohort.

DESIGN:

Population-based epidemiologic study.

PARTICIPANTS:

Of the 3654 participants of the Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES I) baseline examination (aged 49 years+ during 1992-1994), 2335 were reexamined during the 5-year follow-up examinations from 1997 to 1999 (BMES II), and 543 persons had died since BMES I.

METHODS:

Visual acuity was measured using a logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution chart in both eyes separately before and after standardized refraction. Pupils were dilated and a detailed examination was performed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Visual impairment, after best refractive correction, was defined as any (visual acuity </=20/40; </=41 letters) and severe (visual acuity </=20/200; 0-5 letters) in keeping with the Beaver Dam Eye Study. Incident binocular visual impairment was defined as visual acuity </=20/40 in both eyes at follow-up, where visual acuity was >20/40 in both eyes at baseline. Incident binocular severe visual impairment was defined as visual acuity </=20/200 in both eyes at follow-up, where visual acuity was >20/200 in both eyes at baseline. The incidence for three other levels of visual impairment is also given: <20/40, <20/70, and <20/200. Monocular visual impairment was defined as impairment in one eye only at follow-up, where both eyes were unimpaired at baseline. Incident doubling and halving of the visual angle were calculated.

RESULTS:

Incidence rates for visual impairment increased significantly with age. Any incident impairment </=20/40 occurred binocularly in 41 persons (1.9%) and monocularly in 150 persons (7.1%). Severe incident impairment </=20/200 occurred binocularly in 3 persons (0.1%) and monocularly in 44 persons (2.1%). Incident impairment <20/40 occurred binocularly in 37 persons (1.7%) and monocularly in 134 persons (6.3%). Impairment <20/70 occurred binocularly in 15 persons (0.7%) and monocularly in 84 persons (3.8%). Impairment <20/200 occurred binocularly in 3 persons (0.1%) and monocularly in 44 persons (1.9%). Women consistently had a higher incidence of visual impairment than men, although this was often not statistically significant after adjusting for age. Increasing age was a strong predictor of visual impairment.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study has documented the 5-year incidence and causes of visual impairment in an older Australian population.

• Authors: Suriya Foran, Paul Mitchell, Jie Jin Wang
• Journal: Ophthalmology (Ophthalmology) Vol. 110 Issue 1 Pg. 41-50 (Jan 2003) ISSN: 0161-6420 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12511344 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Age Distribution
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Female
• Humans
• Incidence
• Male
• Middle Aged
• New South Wales (epidemiology)
• Sex Distribution
• Vision Disorders (epidemiology, etiology, physiopathology)
• Vision, Binocular
• Visual Acuity (physiology)
• Visually Impaired Persons (statistics & numerical data)