The Prevalence and Risk Indicators of Uncorrected Refractive Error and Unmet Refractive Need in Latinos: The Los Angeles Latino Eye Study

¹ Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California, 1450 San Pablo Street, Los Angeles, California, 90033-4666, United States
² Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
³ Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
⁴ Dept. Preventive Medicine, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, United States

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: rvarma{at}usc.edu.

	Abstract

PURPOSE. To determine the age- and gender-specific prevalence and risk indicators of uncorrected refractive error and unmet refractive need among a population-based sample of Latino adults. METHODS. Self-identified Latinos 40 years and older (n=6129) from six census tracts in La Puente, California underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination and a home-administered questionnaire provided self-reported data on potential risk indicators. Uncorrected refractive error was defined as line improvement with refraction in the better seeing eye. Unmet refractive need was defined as having <20/40 visual acuity in the better seeing eye and achieving 20/40 following refraction (#1) or having <20/40 visual acuity in the better seeing eye and achieving 2 line improvement with refraction (#2). Gender- and age-specific prevalence and significant risk indicators for uncorrected refractive error and unmet refractive need were calculated. RESULTS. The overall prevalence of uncorrected refractive error was 15.1% (n=926). The overall prevalence for unmet refractive need was 8.9% (n=213, definition #1) and 9.6% (n=218, definition #2). The prevalence of uncorrected refractive error and either definition of unmet refractive need increased with age (P<0.0001). No gender-related difference was present. Older age, <12 years of education and lack of health insurance were significant independent risk indicators for uncorrected refractive error and unmet refractive need. CONCLUSIONS. Our data suggest that the prevalence of uncorrected refractive error and unmet refractive need is high in Latinos of primarily Mexican ancestry. Better education and access to care in older Latinos are likely to decrease the burden of uncorrected refractive error in Latinos.

Key Words: uncorrected refractive error, epidemiology, Latino/Hispanics, unmet refractive need