Table 4
Comparison with other population based studies on prevalence of visual impairment and blindness in the United Kingdom and comparable populations in North America, Europe, and Australia
| Prevalence of visual acuity less than 6/18 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65 plus | 75 plus | 85 plus | ||||||
| Country | Study | Correction of refractive error | No | % | No | % | No | % |
| Refraction: optimal subjective refraction obtained after objective autorefraction. | ||||||||
| *Visual impairment <6/12. | ||||||||
| †Age groups not exactly the same: 60+. 70+, 80+. | ||||||||
| UK | MRC trial of assessment and management of older people in the community | Presenting binocular acuity <6/18 | 14600 | 12.4 | 3100 | 23.5 | ||
| UK | Wormald et al2 | Pinhole <6/18 | 207 | 7.7 | 106 | 14.2 | ||
| UK* | Reidy et al3 | Presenting binocular acuity <6/12 | 1547 | 30.2 | ||||
| UK | Van der Pols et al4 | Pinhole <6/18 | 1362 | 12.0 | ||||
| USA* | SEE project9 | Presenting binocular acuity <6/12 | 2520 | 6.9 | 905 | 11.7 | ||
| Netherlands | Rotterdam Study5 | Refraction | 4214 | 2.2 | 1806 | 4.7 | 408 | 11.8 |
| USA† | Baltimore Eye Study6 | Refraction | 1751 | 2.6 | 836 | 4.8 | 206 | 13.1 |
| USA | Beaver Dam Eye Study8 | Refraction | 2073 | 2.7 | 795 | 6 | ||
| Australia | Blue Mountain Eye Study10 | Refraction | 1990 | 2.1 | 783 | 5.0 | 132 | 13.6 |
| Australia† | Melbourne Visual Impairment Project12 | Refraction | 1467 | 2.8 | 605 | 6.2 | 161 | 18.8 |
