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Study finds binocular vision anomalies common among elderly
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SAN FRANCISCO - A retrospective study of 500 patient files showed that binocular vision anomalies had a prevalence of at least 42% in patients 60 and older.
During an American Academy of Optometry-sponsored press conference here at Academy 2010, Susan J. Leat, PhD, FAAO, FCOptom, reported, "Binocular vision anomalies have a high prevalence among the elderly and tend to increase with age, but are more strongly predicted by measures of general health than by age."
According to the abstract, the study intended to determine the prevalence of binocular vision anomalies, which could be a factor in falls in the elderly due to a compromise in stereopsis.
Dr. Leat looked at strabismus, heterophoria, remote near point of convergence, incommitancy, poor pursuits and diplopia. "We also looked at any binocular vision or oculomotor disorder, such as large phoria, plus indications of decompensation," she reported.
"There is a significant association with age, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally," she continued.
The 10-year incidence was 36.2% for any binocular vision impairment, Dr. Leat said, and 22.7% for any binocular vision disorder. "Specifically, it was 8.6% for near large exophoria and 12.9% for vertical phoria," she added.