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Common ophthalmic issues presenting to a community-based ocular health screening program
The Kress Vision Program is a non-profit that provides eye examinations and prescription glasses free-of-cost to under-served communities throughout New York City.
Purpose:
To identify common ophthalmic concerns presenting to an urban, community-based screening program.
Methods:
Retrospective analysis of screening exam face-sheets and referral forms.
Results:
Over a two-month period from Jan-Feb 2013, Kress Vision screened 197 clients Clients were predominantly female (57.3%) and had a mean age of 43.4 (SD = 18.9).
Uncorrected refractive errors were common: 95 clients (48.2%) had initial Snellen acuity worse than 20/40, and 23 (11.7%) had acuity worse than 20/100. In total, 173 clients (87.8%) required new prescription glasses, and an additional 15 clients (8.7%) were given reading glasses only.
48 clients (24.4%) were referred for more advanced ophthalmologic care. Common reasons for referral included: glaucoma suspect (n = 24, 50%), need for dilated fundus exam (n = 17, 35.4%), cataract (n = 5, 10.4%), pterygium (n = 5, 10.4%), and poor visual acuity (n = 4, 8.3%). Of note, some clients were referred for multiple problems, and the total exceeds 100%.
Conclusions:
Uncorrected refractive errors are common in a community-based screening population. Approximately 1 in 4 screening clients require more advanced follow-up evaluations for ophthalmic complaints, including glaucoma suspect, cataract, pterygium and poor visual acuity.
Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programsChronic disease management and prevention
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Provision of health care to the public
Learning Objectives:
Identify common ophthalmic problems presenting to a community-based vision program
Keyword(s): Vision Care
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been a clinical volunteer for the Kress Vision Program, and have been a provider of community-based vision care for over one year.
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.