Visual Impairment among Older Adults in a Rural Community in Eastern China

Purpose. To determine the prevalence, causes, and associations of visual impairment (VI) among participants aged 60 years or older in a rural community in China. Methods. A community-based survey was undertaken in a rural town located in Eastern China and 4579 people aged 60 years or older participated in the study. Presenting visual acuity was assessed using a Snellen chart with tumbling-E optotypes and anterior segment was examined using a slit-lamp. VI was defined as presenting VA <6/18 and it included moderate VI (<6/18 to 6/60) and blindness (<6/60). Results. The prevalence of VI was 5.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.7-6.0). In multivariate analysis, the presence of VI was positively associated with increasing age (odds ratio [ OR] = 1.12, 95% CI 1.10-1.16, per year increase), female gender (OR = 2.33, 95% CI 1.53-3.55), the presence of hypertension (OR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.001-1.85), living alone (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.08-2.62), and increased sleeping hours (OR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.001-1.22). Drinking 3 or more glasses of green tea per day was inversely associated with VI (OR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.63-0.98). Conclusion. VI was less prevalent in this community compared with previous report in other areas in China.