Title | Nonmetro residence and impaired vision among elderly Americans. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2004 |
Authors | Johnson, NE |
Journal | J Rural Health |
Volume | 20 |
Issue | 2 |
Pagination | 142-50 |
Date Published | 2004 Spring |
ISSN Number | 0890-765X |
Keywords | Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cataract, Chronic disease, Comorbidity, Diabetes Mellitus, Humans, Hypertension, Prevalence, Risk Assessment, Rural Health, United States, Urban Health, Vision Disorders |
Abstract | PURPOSE: Nonmetro and metro elderly people are contrasted in their risk of having (relative to lacking) an impairment in distance vision and in near vision. METHODS: Using the 1995-1996 panel (Wave 2) of the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) Survey, the prevalence of 5 eye-threatening conditions (cardiovascular disease, cataract, diabetes, glaucoma, and hypertension), a variety of medical treatments for these conditions, the number of talks/visits with doctors in the 2 years before Wave 2, and several relevant demographic characteristics of the 6,817 respondents were controlled. FINDINGS: Nonmetro and metro elders have the same risk of impairment in distance vision. After controlling for other factors, nonmetro elders have a higher risk than their metro peers of an uncorrected impairment in near vision (probably presbyopia). CONCLUSIONS: Nonmetro elders may confront more impediments to updating their corrective lenses for presbyopia. Implications for public health policy are discussed. |
DOI | 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2004.tb00021.x |
User Guide Notes | |
Endnote Keywords | Visually Impaired Persons/Residential Segregation |
Endnote ID | 12862 |
Alternate Journal | J Rural Health |
Citation Key | 6942 |
PubMed ID | 15085628 |