Vision Screening in Adults Across the Life Span.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to determine whether adults across the life span differ in responses to quick vision screening and how those responses relate to adults' use of specialized eye care.

METHODS: Subjects were 363 community-dwelling ambulatory adults, 21 to 95 years old, who were tested while they wore their corrective lenses during routine visits to a tertiary care facility. No subjects had known neurological impairments, age-related macular degeneration, or other significant eye disease. A wall-mounted Early Treatment in Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart was used.

RESULTS: Older adults 58 years old or older had significantly worse scores than younger adults. Scores did not differ between subjects who had been tested within or prior to the last 10 months. Older subjects had their vision tested significantly more recently than younger subjects.

CONCLUSIONS: Vision screening is quick, inexpensive, and easily performed by ancillary staff, and it may provide the physician with useful additional information for treatment planning.