02249nas a2200217   4500000000100000008004100001100001300042700001300055700001500068700001400083700001600097700001500113700001400128700001300142245006400155250001500219300001100234490000700245520173300252020004601985       2009                            d1 aIvers R.1 aSwamy B.1 aClemson L.1 aTanzer M.1 aMitchell P.1 aCumming R.1 aCullen J.1 aHayes M.00aVision screening for frail older people: a randomised trial  a2008/07/11  a736-410 v933 a<p>
AIM: To assess the effects of vision screening, and subsequent management of visual impairment, on visual acuity and vision-related quality of life among frail older people. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Community in Sydney, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: 616 men and women aged 70 years and over (mean age 81 years) recruited mainly from people attending outpatient aged care services. CONTROL: No vision assessment or intervention INTERVENTIONS: Comprehensive vision and eye examinations conducted by an optometrist. Three hundred subjects were seen by the study optometrist, with 146 judged to need treatment for a vision or eye problem. The optometrist arranged new glasses for 92 subjects; 24 were referred for a home visit by an occupational therapist; 17 were referred for glaucoma management; and 15 were referred for cataract surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Distance and near visual acuity (logMAR) and composite scores on the 25-item version of the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire, both assessed at a 12-month follow-up home visit. RESULTS: After 12 months' follow-up, the mean (logMAR) distance visual acuity was 0.27 in the intervention group and 0.25 in the control group (p = 0.32). The mean (logMAR) near visual acuities were -0.01 in the intervention group and -0.03 in the control group (p = 0.26). The mean composite score on the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire was 84.3 in the intervention group and 86.4 in the control group (p = 0.49). CONCLUSIONS: Vision screening by an optometrist for frail older people living in the community in Australia does not lead to improvements in vision or vision-related quality of life after 1 year's follow-up.
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