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Frequency of under-corrected refractive errors in elderly Chinese in Beijing

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of under-corrected refractive error among elderly Chinese in the Beijing area.

Methods

The population-based, cross-sectional, cohort study comprised 4,439 subjects out of 5,324 subjects asked to participate (response rate 83.4%) with an age of 40+ years. It was divided into a rural part [1,973 (44.4%) subjects] and an urban part [2,466 (55.6%) subjects]. Habitual and best-corrected visual acuity was measured. Under-corrected refractive error was defined as an improvement in visual acuity of the better eye of at least two lines with best possible refractive correction.

Results

The rate of under-corrected refractive error was 19.4% (95% confidence interval, 18.2, 20.6). In a multiple regression analysis, prevalence and size of under-corrected refractive error in the better eye was significantly associated with lower level of education (P<0.001), female gender (P<0.001), and age (P=0.001).

Conclusions

Under-correction of refractive error is relatively common among elderly Chinese in the Beijing area when compared with data from other populations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Tongren Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China

    Liang Xu, Jianjun Li, Tongtong Cui, Zhongbiao Tong, Guizhi Fan, Hua Yang, Baochen Sun & Yuanyuan Zheng

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany

    Jost B. Jonas

Authors
  1. Liang Xu
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  2. Jianjun Li
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  3. Tongtong Cui
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  4. Zhongbiao Tong
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  5. Guizhi Fan
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  6. Hua Yang
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  7. Baochen Sun
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  8. Yuanyuan Zheng
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  9. Jost B. Jonas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jost B. Jonas.

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Xu, L., Li, J., Cui, T. et al. Frequency of under-corrected refractive errors in elderly Chinese in Beijing. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmo 244, 871–873 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-005-0206-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-005-0206-1

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