Prevalence and causes of visual impairment among older persons living in low-income old age homes in Durban, South Africa
African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine
Field | Value | |
Title | Prevalence and causes of visual impairment among older persons living in low-income old age homes in Durban, South Africa | |
Creator | Mashige, Khathutshelo P. Ramklass, Serela S. | |
Description | Background: Visual impairment (VI) increases with age and has been reported to be more prevalent among older adults living in old age homes than in the general population.Aim: To determine the prevalence and causes of VI among older adults living in low-income old age homes in Durban, South Africa.Setting: This study was conducted at low-income old age homes in Durban.Methods: This cross-sectional study of 118 residents aged 60 years and older, collected socio-demographic data, presenting visual acuities (VAs) for each eye, and binocularly. Anterior segment eye examinations were conducted with a penlight torch and a portable slit-lamp, while posterior segment evaluation was conducted with direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Objective and subjective refractions were performed, and the best-corrected distance and near VAs were measured in each eye. VI was defined as presenting VA 6/18 and included moderate VI ( 6/18−6/60), severe VI ( 6/60 –3/60) and blindness ( 6/120).Results: The mean age of the participants was 73.3 years and included 80.5% females and 19.5% males. The prevalence of VI and blindness was 63.6%. Optical correction significantly reduced the prevalence of VI and blindness by 19.5% (p 0.05). The main causes of non-refractive VI and blindness were cataract (54.5%), posterior segment disorders (25.5%) and corneal opacities (20%).Conclusion: The prevalence of VI and blindness is high among residents in low-income old age homes living in Durban. Refractive correction and surgical cataract intervention can significantly reduce the burden of VI and blindness among the elderly residents. | |
Publisher | AOSIS | |
Date | 2020-06-10 | |
Identifier | 10.4102/phcfm.v12i1.2159 | |
Source | African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine; Vol 12, No 1 (2020); 7 pages 2071-2936 2071-2928 | |
Language | eng | |
Relation |
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https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/2159/3655
https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/2159/3654
https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/2159/3656
https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/2159/3649
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