141st APHA Annual Meeting

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281969
Color vision deficiency amongst visually impaired patients attending a vision rehabilitation clinic

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Janis Ecklund Winters, OD , Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago, IL
Tracy Matchinski
Karen Squier
Introduction Color vision (CV) deficiency can be caused by both congenital and acquired mechanisms. CV deficiencies may affect many aspects patients' life. Patients with visual impairment (VI) due to ocular disease may have acquired CV deficits due to severity of their condition. The purpose of this study is to assess moderate /severe CV deficiency in VI patients seen in the Center for Vision and Aging of the Illinois Eye Institute. Methods: CV was tested on right and left eyes using the large version ‘Panel 16 Quantitative Color Vision Test'. ‘Panel 16 Quantitative Color Vision Test' was administered and scored following standard protocol. CV results were assessed as ‘fail', ‘minor error' or ‘pass'. Patients were queried for age, race, gender, and personal/ family history of CV deficiency. Results: One hundred (100) completed testing. The majority were African-American (84%); female (62%). Mean age was 53. When CV test was assessed, 34% failed in both eyes/could only perform test in 1 eye (OU/monocular); 22% were assessed as ‘minor error' OU/monocular and 20% ‘passed' testing OU/monocular. In addition, 10% failed CV testing in one eye and not the other. Of those failed CV testing in either eye (n=44), 29% reported problems with CV; 35% reported CV had changed/worsened and 2% reported a history of CV deficiency in their family members. Conclusions: A large number of VI patients had moderate/severe CV deficiencies. The majority did not report CV issues/ have family history. These finding underscore the feasibility and importance of assessing CV in VI patients.

Learning Areas:
Clinical medicine applied in public health

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the prevalence of color vision deficiency in the general population. Describe common color vision tests. Compare the characteristics of acquired and congenital color vision defects. Describe how color deficiencies can different aspects of a person’s lifestyle. Demonstrate the importance of color vision testing amongst visually impaired patients.

Keywords: Vision Care, Health Assessment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am an Associate Professor of Optometry at the Illinois College of Optometry where I have been a member of the faculty since 1995. I practice optometry in both the primary care and vision rehabilitation clinics. She is also an active member of several professional organizations and have presented regularly at these annual meetings. I have authored many publications on a variety of optometry-related topics.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4276.1: Vision and eye health