Articles about Eye Health and Disease from 2000 and earlier:
 

Causes of Blindness and Visual Impairment in Older Americans

(From Munoz B, MSc et al. Causes of blindness and visual impairment in a population of older Americans. Arch Ophthalmol. 7/2000;118:819-825.)

The study cited above looked at a random sample of 3821 Salisbury, Maryland residents between the ages of 65 and 84 to evaluate visual impairment. 2520 (66%) persons agreed to undergo an eye examination (26% were African- American). Visual impairment was defined as having a best-corrected visual acuity between 20/40 and 20/200 (legally blind) in the better seeing eye. Blindness was defined as having 20/200 vision or worse in the better seeing eye. A cause for the visual loss was determined by an ophthalmologist based on the examination.

Results include:

• 4% of those 65 to 74 years of age were visually impaired, and 16% of those 80 to 84 years of age were visually impaired. However, one third of all of those visually impaired were found to simply need a change in glasses to correct the vision. Overall, 4.5% had a visual acuity worse than 20/40 after refraction.

• African-Americans were more likely to remain visually impaired in spite of changing the glasses prescription.

• Overall, 0.83% (21 individuals) were legally blind in both eyes.

• The causes of visual impairment, in spite of changing glasses, included:

  • Cataract in 42% (36 persons)

  • Macular degeneration in 20% (17 persons)

  • Diabetic retinopathy in 12% (10 persons)

  • Glaucoma and other retinal problems in 14% (12 persons)

  • Other less common causes included clouding of the capsule behind a lens implant, corneal scarring, optic nerve atrophy, and undetermined.

• In the 21 individuals who were legally blind,

  • 43% were blind from macular degeneration

  • Optic nerve atrophy caused blindness in 3 persons

  • 2 persons were blind from each of glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, trauma, and other retinal diseases.

  • 1 person was legally blind from cataract.

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