PubMed ID: 15177963
Author(s): Varma R, Ying-Lai M, Klein R, Azen SP; Los Angeles Latino Eye Study Group. Prevalence and risk indicators of visual impairment and blindness in Latinos: the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study. Ophthalmology. 2004 Jun;111(6):1132-40. PMID 15177963
Journal: Ophthalmology, Volume 111, Issue 6, Jun 2004
OBJECTIVE To determine the age- and gender-specific prevalence and risk indicators of visual impairment and blindness in urban Latinos 40 years and older.
DESIGN Population-based cross-sectional study.
PARTICIPANTS Six thousand three hundred fifty-seven Latinos 40 years and older from 6 census tracts in Los Angeles, California.
METHODS Of the 6357 study participants, 6122 underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination at the clinical center, including measurement of best-corrected distance visual acuity (VA) using a standard Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study protocol. Age- and gender-specific prevalence of visual impairment and blindness were contrasted using Mantel-Haenszel procedures. Sociodemographic and clinical risk indicators of visual impairment were explored using stepwise logistic regression.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Prevalence and odds ratios for risk indicators of visual impairment and blindness.
RESULTS The overall prevalence for visual impairment (best-corrected VA of /=80 years]). The overall prevalence for blindness (best-corrected VA of /=80 years]). Visual impairment increased with age (P/=80 years (8.7 [3.9-19.6]), history of ocular disease (3.2 [2.1-4.8]), being unemployed (3.3 [1.7-6.3]), diabetes (2.2 [1.5-3.2]), and being separated/divorced (1.8 [1.0-3.1]) or widowed (2.8 [1.8-4.4]). Participants with >/=12 years of education (0.5 [0.3-0.8]) were less likely to be visually impaired.
CONCLUSIONS Rates of visual impairment and blindness in Latinos are high, especially in older individuals. Better education and employment are likely to decrease the burden of visual impairment in Latinos.