Purpose: To investigate changes in the prevalence of visual impairment in an Italian population from 1988 to 2000.
Methods: Standardized ophthalmologic examinations were administered to citizens of Ponza, Italy aged 40-87 years in 1988 and 2000. Visual Acuity (VA) was measured using a standard logarithmic chart. Visual fields (VF) were tested in all subjects with diagnosed or suspected glaucoma or hereditary degenerative retinopathy. Visual impairment was classified as blindness (VA > 1.3 LogMAR or VF < 10 degrees around central fixation) or low vision (VA > 0.5 to 1.3 LogMAR or VF < 20 degrees to 10 degrees) according to WHO criteria.
Results: The prevalence of binocular total visual impairments decreased significantly among 64-75 year-olds (from 6.7% to 2.6%, p = 0.045), and almost significantly among 40-51 year-olds (from 2.4%, 95% CI 1.1-5.3, to 0.0%, 95% CI 0.0-1.3). By 2000, visual impairment was no longer significantly associated with female gender, and age 64-75 years; the mean age of subjects with vision-impairing cataract, diabetic retinopathy, or age-related macular degeneration had risen significantly.
Conclusions: A decline in the prevalence of visual impairment, particularly in cataract-associated visual impairment was found in the middle-aged groups. The progression of age-related eye diseases seems to have slowed in this population possibly due to improvements in the life expectancy and socio-economic conditions.