Self-Reported Use of Eye Care among Latinos The Los Angeles Latino Eye Study

Purpose: To identify the prevalence and determinants of self-reported eye care use in Latinos. Design: Population-based ocular epidemiologic study in Latinos aged 40 + years living in La Puente, California. Participants: A total of 5455 participants. Methods: Univariate, multivariable, and stepwise logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify predisposing, enabling, and need variables associated with self-reported eye care use. Main Outcome Measures: Prevalence of self-reported use: eye care visit, having had a dilated examination in the past 12 months, ever having had a dilated examination, and odds ratios for factors associated with self-reported use. Results: Overall, 36% of participants reported an eye care visit and 19% reported having a dilated examination in the past year. Fifty-seven percent reported ever having had a dilated eye examination. Greater eye care use was associated with older age, female gender, bilingual language proficiency (English and Spanish), more education, having health insurance, having a usual place for care, having a regular provider of care, a greater number of comorbidities, visual impairment, and lower vision-specific quality of life scores. Conclusions: Multiple modifiable factors are associated with greater use and access to eye care for Latinos. Modification of these factors should be a priority because visual impairment has significant impacts on well-being and mortality. Financial Disclosure(s): The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. Ophthalmology 2010; 117: 207-215 (C) 2010 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.