Citation

Vestn. Oftalmol. 2014; 130(4): 34-38.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Meditsina Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

25306721

Abstract

PURPOSE: To study functional consequences of mechanical eye injury in older patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical records of 601 patients aged from 50 (min) (current clinical material) to 92 (max) years, once admitted to the hospital with an eye injury during the last decade, were used in the study. The group included 438 (72.9%) men with an average age of 63.4 +/- 0.4 years and 163 (27.1%) women with an average age of 67.1 +/- 0.8 years. Functional parameters of each eye were analyzed by two rating scales: the first included five levels of visual impairment, the second - three, i.e. moderate hypovision (0.1-0.3), severe hypovision (0.09-0.05), and near or absolute blindness (0.04-0). Then, the joint performance of both eyes was analyzed (the best corrected visual acuity of the better or, in case of monocular vision, the only functional eye was taken into account).

RESULTS: Comparison of visual functions of the two eyes at the discharge in regard to the potential risk of vision-related disability revealed that 33 patients (5.5 +/- 0.9%) with eye trauma had visual impairment that could be considered as a risk factor for group 1 disability, 26 patients (4.3 +/- 0.8%) were at risk for group 2 disability, and 58 patients (9.7 +/- 1.2%)--for group 3 disability. A total of 484 patients (80.5 +/- 1.6%) had satisfactory visual functions and were capable of handling daily living activities.

CONCLUSIONS: Age-related vision changes can and should be considered as potential risk factors for eye injury. Given the high probability of preexisting age-related vision changes and, thus, a higher risk for complications, eye injuries in elderly patients can be undoubtedly attributed to heavy ones and are associated with the need for preventive measures.

Language: ru