The Prevalence of Visual Impairment of the Elderly at University Eye Clinic

The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence and causes of visual impairment of the elderly who came to Rangsit University Eye Clinic for eye services in 2020-2021. Medical charts of elderly patients aged 60 years and older were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data collected included age, gender, and underlying diseases. Data on refraction by optometrists and eye examination by ophthalmologists were collected. The Visual impairment was categorized using WHO definitions. The study included 1,452 patients aged 60 years and older with a mean age of 69.6 ± 8.09 years (range 60 to 110 years). Visual impairment was classified using presenting visual acuity (PVA) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). The prevalence of bilateral blindness and bilateral moderate and severe visual impairment (MSVI) using PVA were 6.20% and 69.56% respectively. When using BCVA, bilateral blindness, and bilateral MSVI were 0.69% and 11.02% respectively. Bilateral blindness did not increase with aging (p =0.125) and no gender difference (p=0.521) when using PVA. If using BCVA, bilateral MSVI did not increase with aging (p=0.920) and no gender difference (p=0.242) For eye diseases causing MSVI, were cataract, glaucoma, retinal detachment, epiretinal membrane, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, branch retinal vein occlusion. The emerging cause of bilateral blindness and bilateral MSVI were myopic macular degeneration. In conclusion, this study investigated the prevalence of visual impairment in the elderly population at the University Eye Clinic. Since visual impairment from these diseases can be prevented or treated, planning for eye health promotion and prevention, with the involvement of appropriate eye personnel for screening, is therefore necessary to prevent avoidable visual impairment.