Abstract

DUARTE, Wladimir Ribeiro; BARROS, Aluísio J. D.; DIAS-DA-COSTA, Juvenal Soares  and  CATTAN, Jacobo Melamed. Prevalence of near vision deficiency and related factors: a population-based study in Brazil. Cad. Saúde Pública [online]. 2003, vol.19, n.2, pp. 551-559. ISSN 0102-311X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2003000200022.

The objective of this article was to estimate the prevalence of presbyopia in adults ³ 30 years and explore associated characteristics such as demographic, socioeconomic, and individual variables. A cross-sectional, population-based study was performed with 3,007 adults ³ 30 years in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Near vision acuity was evaluated using the Jaeger table, and other variables were investigated using standardized, pre-coded questionnaires. Prevalence of presbyopia was 54.7%. When visual acuity was measured using visual corrective means, prevalence was 29.34%. Age and female gender were associated with the outcome variable after controlling for confounding. Some 42.4% of the sample reported not requiring near vision for routine daily tasks. The conclusion was that presbyopia displays a high prevalence in the adult population and is directly related to increasing age, especially 45 years of age and appearing earlier in women. In some 30% of individuals who already use visual corrective means, the latter are ineffective for near vision.

Keywords : Presbyopia; Prevalence; Vision; Cross-Sectional Studies.