(Prevalence of serious eye disease and visual impairment in a north London population: population based, cross sectional study)
Most metropolitan areas of the UK do not have reliable data on the incidence of eye disease and visual impairment within their local populations and a study in north London reveals serious levels of eye disease unknown to the local eye services.
The study surveyed a random sample of 1547 patients aged 65 and over drawn from 17 north London general practices. 30 percent of the sample had some visual impairment which was treatable with spectacles or by surgery in almost three quarters of cases.
Although 30 percent of patients had cataracts causing some visual impairment, 88 percent were not in contact with eye services. Although the prevalence of glaucoma was three percent, three quarters of those with definite glaucoma were not known to the eye services.
Eye problems were more prevalent in people living in relatively underprivileged areas.
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Dr D C Minassian, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EJ
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