Authors' objectives:

To assess the effects of screening for impaired visual acuity in primary care settings in older (age > 65 years) adults.

Authors' recommendations: Direct evidence is relatively limited, but shows that screening for impaired visual acuity in older adults in primary care settings is not associated with improved visual or other clinical outcomes and may be associated with unintended harms such as increased risk of falls. Effective treatments (benefits outweigh harms) are available for uncorrected refractive error, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration. The Snellen chart is the standard for screening for impaired visual acuity in primary care, but its diagnostic accuracy is difficult to assess because a clinically relevant reference standard is not established. There remains no evidence on accuracy of fundoscopic examination by primary care providers. More research is needed to understand why the direct evidence on vision screening in older adults shows no benefit, despite the availability of effective treatments for common conditions associated with impaired visual acuity.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK35192/

Year Published: 2009

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: United States

Organisation Name: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Contact Address: Center for Outcomes and Evidence Technology Assessment Program, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. Tel: +1 301 427 1610; Fax: +1 301 427 1639;

Contact Name: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov

Contact Email: martin.erlichman@ahrq.hhs.gov

Copyright: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)