Risk of visual impairment in individuals with a history of a farming, forestry, or fishing occupation

Background and Objective: Visual impairment (VI) is associated with mortality, poor productivity, and decreased quality of life. Farming, forestry, and fishing (FFF) occupations often require workers to engage in behaviors that can put these individuals at risk for VI. The current objective was to evaluate if individuals with a history of an FFF occupation were more likely to report VI than those with a history of an alternate occupation. 

Methods: Cross-sectional data were analyzed from 11,753 U.S. adults from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) years 2005-2006 and 2007-2008. Longest occupation and nine measures of self-reported VI were assessed for associations with logistic regression applying NHANES sampling weights.

Results: Preliminary logistic regression revealed that, when controlling for demographic confounders, individuals with a history of an FFF occupation were significantly more likely to report poorer general eyesight (OR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.77, 1.77), increased time worrying about eyesight (OR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.14), more time limitations in activities due to vision (OR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.47, 1.48), and difficulty reading newsprint (OR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.58, 1.59), noticing objects to the side (OR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.16 1.17), and daytime driving (OR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.29 1.30) than those without an FFF occupation history.

Conclusion: FFF workers were found to be more likely to report VI than workers of other occupations. Further research should identify hazards that make FFF workers more vulnerable to VI. Workplace practices should adopt education and intervention programs that minimize the risk for VI.