Researchers recommend better detection of refractive errors to avoid visual impairment

A study using data from the World Health Organization's Vision 2020 initiative has identified a relatively small yet significant prevalence of undiagnosed refractive errors among working-age adults in Britain. In addition, the study found that these people may be adapting daily activity to accommodate these visual deficiencies.

"Improvements in existing opportunities for detecting [refractive errors] in adults could benefit these individuals during their working lives and avoid the serious adverse consequences associated with vision impairment in later life," the study authors said in the September issue of British Journal of Ophthalmology.

J.S. Rahi, PhD, FRCOphth, and colleagues evaluated the incidence of visual impairment due to undiagnosed refractive errors and its relationship with vision-related quality of life, general health and social circumstances among a nationally representative sample of 9,271 British adults. These participants were all members of the 1958 British birth cohort who had received visual acuity assessments at 7, 11, 16 and 44 years of age. In addition, the investigators compared quality-of-life, health and social data for patients who had undiagnosed refractive errors with those who had diagnosed visual impairment.

Of these 9,271 participants, 144 (1.6%) had undiagnosed refractive errors, of which 24 participants (18%) were identified as having visual impairment.

A total of 3,513 participants (37.9%) had diagnosed refractive errors, the authors noted.

The investigators found that participants with undiagnosed refractive errors were more likely to have manual occupations, were more likely to be separated, divorced or widowed, and were less likely to hold membership in social or professional associations.

"There is also some evidence that they are more likely to express concern, embarrassment and frustration about their eyesight and worry about coping with life," the authors said.