Sains Malaysiana 45(9)(2016): 1393–1398

Refractive Error and Visual Acuity of elderly Chinese in Selangor and Johor, Malaysia

(Ralat Refraksi dan Akuiti Penglihatan dalam Kalangan Warga Emas Cina di Selangor dan Johor, Malaysia)

ZAINORA MOHAMMED^1*, SITI ZAWIYAH MANSOR¹, SAADAH MOHAMED AKHIR¹,

BARIAH MOHD-ALI¹ & NORHANI MOHIDIN²

¹Program of Optometry and Vision Sciences, School of Healthcare Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

²Department of Optometry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Received: 30 December 2015/Accepted: 22 April 2016

ABSTRACT

The first aim of this study was to determine the refractive error and visual acuity of Chinese elderly age 60 and above in Selangor and Johor, Malaysia. The second aim was to determine the percentage of elderly with vision impairment. Participants of this study were from the on-going population-based longitudinal study on neuroprotective model for healthy longevity (TUA) among Malaysian older adults using multistage random sampling. A total of 259 Chinese elderly aged 60 and above from state of Selangor and Johor agreed to participate. Refractive error was determined using autorefractometer Retinomax K-plus followed by subjective refraction. Best corrected visual acuity (VA) was measured using logMAR chart. Analysis was performed on data of 202 participants and the remaining 57 were excluded. Overall percentage of refractive error was higher for hyperopia (54%) compared to myopia (23.2%). High percentage of astigmatism was noted for all age groups (> 50%). Both gender showed similar distribution of refractive status. Mean overall VA was 0.24 ± 0.17 logMAR (≅ 6/9-) and mean VA declined with age. Overall, the percentage of elderly having at least mild vision impairment (> 0.3 logMAR or 6/12) was higher (62.9%) compared to normal vision (≤ 0.3 logMAR). However, percentage of vision impairment (VI) was highest in the mild category compared to others and only one participant had severe VI. This study found a high percentage of Chinese elderly with refractive error. The most common type of refractive error was hyperopia. A high proportion of them had mild vision impairment followed by moderate VI even with best correction. Vision impairment could affect daily life functioning and this effect can be further explored in the future.

Keywords: Elderly; refractive error; vision impairment

ABSTRAK

Tujuan utama kajian ini adalah menentukan ralat refraksi dan akuiti visual warga emas Cina berumur 60 tahun dan ke atas di Selangor dan Johor, Malaysia. Kajian ini juga bertujuan untuk menentukan peratus warga emas dengan kecelaan penglihatan. Subjek adalah daripada kajian longitud model pelindung neuro untuk lanjut usia sihat (TUA) yang sedang dijalankan dalam kalangan warga emas dengan menggunakan kaedah persampelan rawak berperingkat. Sejumlah 259 warga emas Cina berumur 60 tahun ke atas dari negeri Selangor dan Johor bersetuju untuk menyertai kajian ini. Ralat refraksi diukur menggunakan autorefraktometer Retinomax K-plus dan diperhalusi dengan kaedah objektif. Akuiti visual terbaik (VA) ditentukan menggunakan carta logMAR. Analisis data dijalankan ke atas 202 subjek dan selebihnya dikeluarkan. Peratus keseluruhan ralat refraksi adalah tinggi untuk jenis hiperopia (54%) berbanding miopia (23.2%). Keputusan kajian juga menunjukkan peratus yang tinggi untuk ralat refraksi jenis astigmatisma (> 50%) dalam kalangan warga emas bagi semua kumpulan umur. Kedua lelaki dan perempuan menunjukkan taburan status refraksi yang sama. Min keseluruhan akuiti visual terbaik (VA) adalah 0.24 ± 0.17 logMAR (≅ 6/9-) dan nilai min VA menurun dengan peningkatan umur. Secara keseluruhan, peratus warga emas yang mempunyai sekurang-kurangnya kecelaan penglihatan ringan (> 0.3 logMAR atau 6/12) adalah lebih tinggi (62.9%) berbanding penglihatan normal (≤ 0.3 logMAR). Namun peratus kecelaan penglihatan adalah paling tinggi dalam kategori ringan berbanding yang lain dan hanya seorang subjek dalam kategori teruk. Keputusan kajian ini menunjukkan ralat refraksi yang tertinggi adalah hiperopia. Kecelaan penglihatan rendah adalah tinggi diikuti dengan kecelaan penglihatan sederhana walaupun telah diberi pembetulan terbaik. Kecelaan penglihatan boleh menjejaskan fungsi hidup seharian dan kesannya boleh dikaji dangan lebih lanjut pada masa hadapan.

Kata kunci: Kecelaan penglihatan; ralat refraksi; warga emas

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*Corresponding author; email: zainora@ukm.edu.my