Skip Navigation
American College of Physicians Logo
  • Subscribe
  • Submit a Manuscript
  • Sign In
    Sign in below to access your subscription for full content
    INDIVIDUAL SIGN IN
    Sign In|Set Up Account
    You will be directed to acponline.org to register and create your Annals account
    INSTITUTIONAL SIGN IN
    Open Athens|Shibboleth|Log In
    Annals of Internal Medicine
    SUBSCRIBE
    Subscribe to Annals of Internal Medicine.
    You will be directed to acponline.org to complete your purchase.
Annals of Internal Medicine Logo Menu
  • Latest
  • Issues
  • Channels
  • CME/MOC
  • In the Clinic
  • Journal Club
  • Web Exclusives
  • Author Info
Advanced Search
  • ‹ PREV ARTICLE
  • This Issue
  • NEXT ARTICLE ›
Summaries for Patients |7 July 2009

Screening Older Adults for Eyesight Problems: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Free

  • ‹ PREV ARTICLE
  • This Issue
  • NEXT ARTICLE ›
Jump To
  • Full Article
  • FULL ARTICLE
  • FULL ARTICLE
    • Who developed these guidelines?
    • What is the problem and what is known about it so far?
    • How did the USPSTF develop these recommendations?
    • What did the authors find?
    • What does the USPSTF suggest that doctors and patients do?
    • What are the cautions related to these recommendations?
  • Figures
  • Tables
  • Supplements
  • Audio/Video
  • Summary for Patients
  • Clinical Slide Sets
  • CME / MOC
  • Comments
  • Twitter Link
  • Facebook Link
  • Email Link
More
  • LinkedIn Link

Who developed these guidelines?

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is a group of health experts that reviews published research and makes recommendations about preventive health care.

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

Common causes of eyesight problems in persons 65 years of age or older include uncorrected refractive errors, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Refractive errors are due to changes in the shape of the eye and its lens and can usually be corrected with proper eyeglasses or contact lenses. Cataracts cloud the lens of the eye and lead to loss of vision. Cataract surgery removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with an artificial lens. Age-related macular degeneration is damage to the macula, the area of the eye that is responsible for detailed vision. Some forms of macular degeneration can be treated with lasers or injections; other forms are not treatable. A visual acuity test, such as the Snellen eye chart, identifies refractive errors, but it does not reliably detect cataracts or AMD. To detect cataracts and AMD, doctors use a special instrument to look into the eye (funduscopic examination). In 1996, the USPSTF recommended routine vision screening with the Snellen eye chart test for persons 65 years of age or older. At that time, the USPSTF decided that there was not enough evidence to recommend routine funduscopic examination for older adults who did not report problems with their eyesight.

How did the USPSTF develop these recommendations?

The authors reviewed studies published since the 1996 recommendation to look for new information about the risks and benefits of screening adults 65 years of age or older for eyesight problems.

What did the authors find?

About 9 of every 100 adults older than 60 years have vision worse than 20/50, even with corrective lenses. A visual acuity test identifies refractive errors but does not accurately identify AMD. The value of visual acuity testing in diagnosing cataracts is unclear. Although there are treatments to improve some vision problems, little evidence is available on the effect of screening and treatment on quality of life, overall functioning, and vision-related functioning in older adults who do not report problems with their eyesight. At the same time, there is no evidence of serious harms from screening older adults for vision problems.

What does the USPSTF suggest that doctors and patients do?

The USPSTF concludes that available studies do not provide enough information to recommend for or against screening older adults for vision problems. Patients and their doctors should base the decision to screen on patient preferences and the availability of visual acuity tests and funduscopic examination.

What are the cautions related to these recommendations?

These recommendations apply only to screening, which means testing for eyesight problems in older adults who do not report trouble seeing. The recommendations may change if new studies become available.

This feature is available only to Registered Users

Subscribe/Learn More
Submit a Comment

0 Comments

PDF
Not Available
Citations
Citation

Screening Older Adults for Eyesight Problems: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation. Ann Intern Med. 2009;151:I–34. doi: https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-151-1-200907070-00002

Download citation file:

  • Ris (Zotero)
  • EndNote
  • BibTex
  • Medlars
  • ProCite
  • RefWorks
  • Reference Manager

© 2020

×
Permissions

Published: Ann Intern Med. 2009;151(1):I-34.

DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-151-1-200907070-00002

0 Citations
Advertisement

See Also
Screening for Impaired Visual Acuity in Older Adults: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement
Screening Older Adults for Impaired Visual Acuity: A Review of the Evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
View MoreView Less

Related Articles
The Cost-Effectiveness of Screening Mammography beyond Age 65 Years: A Systematic Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
Annals of Internal Medicine; 139 (10): 835-842
Benefit-Risk Considerations in Preventive Treatment for Tuberculosis in Elderly Persons
Annals of Internal Medicine; 107 (6): 843-845
Update in General Internal Medicine
Annals of Internal Medicine; 127 (1): 43-51
A Broader Role for Advance Medical Planning
Annals of Internal Medicine; 123 (8): 621-624
View MoreView Less

Journal Club
Dabigatran led to less major bleeding than warfarin in younger but not older patients with atrial fibrillation
Annals of Internal Medicine; 155 (6): JC3-3
Inability to correctly identify year or month was accurate for detecting cognitive impairment in older patients
Annals of Internal Medicine; 155 (6): JC3-9
Review: SSRIs are associated with increased risk for attempted or completed suicide in adolescents but not in adults or the elderly
Annals of Internal Medicine; 150 (12): JC6-13
What kind of randomized trials do patients and clinicians need?
Annals of Internal Medicine; 150 (10): JC5-2
View MoreView Less

Related Point of Care
Fall Prevention in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Annals of Internal Medicine; 169 (11): ITC81-ITC96
View MoreView Less

Related Topics
Geriatric Medicine
Prevention/Screening

Geriatric Medicine, Prevention/Screening.

Advertisement
CME/MOC Activity Requires Users to be Registered and Logged In.
Sign in below to access your subscription for full content
INDIVIDUAL SIGN IN
Sign In|Set Up Account
You will be directed to acponline.org to register and create your Annals account
Annals of Internal Medicine
CREATE YOUR FREE ACCOUNT
Create Your Free Account|Why?
To receive access to the full text of freely available articles, alerts, and more. You will be directed to acponline.org to complete your registration.
×
The Comments Feature Requires Users to be Registered and Logged In.
Sign in below to access your subscription for full content
INDIVIDUAL SIGN IN
Sign In|Set Up Account
You will be directed to acponline.org to register and create your Annals account
Annals of Internal Medicine
CREATE YOUR FREE ACCOUNT
Create Your Free Account|Why?
To receive access to the full text of freely available articles, alerts, and more. You will be directed to acponline.org to complete your registration.
×
link to top

Content

  • Home
  • Latest
  • Issues
  • Channels
  • CME/MOC
  • In the Clinic
  • Journal Club
  • Web Exclusives

Information For

  • Author Info
  • Reviewers
  • Press
  • Readers
  • Institutions / Libraries / Agencies
  • Advertisers

Services

  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Alerts
  • Current Issue RSS
  • Latest RSS
  • In the Clinic RSS
  • Reprints & Permissions
  • Contact Us
  • Help
  • About Annals
  • About Mobile
  • Patient Information
  • Teaching Tools
  • Annals in the News
  • Share Your Feedback

Awards and Cover

  • Personae (Cover Photo)
  • Junior Investigator Awards
  • Poetry Prize

Other Resources

  • ACP Online
  • Career Connection
  • ACP Advocate Blog
  • ACP Journal Wise

Follow Annals On

  • Twitter Link
  • Facebook Link
acp link acp
silverchair link silverchair

Copyright © 2020 American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.

Print ISSN: 0003-4819 | Online ISSN: 1539-3704

Privacy Policy

|

Conditions of Use

This site uses cookies. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our privacy policy. | Accept
×

You need a subscription to this content to use this feature.

×
PDF Downloads Require Access to the Full Article.
Sign in below to access your subscription for full content
INDIVIDUAL SIGN IN
Sign In|Set Up Account
You will be directed to acponline.org to register and create your Annals account
INSTITUTIONAL SIGN IN
Open Athens|Shibboleth|Log In
Annals of Internal Medicine
PURCHASE OPTIONS
Buy This Article|Subscribe
You will be redirected to acponline.org to sign-in to Annals to complete your purchase.
CREATE YOUR FREE ACCOUNT
Create Your Free Account|Why?
To receive access to the full text of freely available articles, alerts, and more. You will be directed to acponline.org to complete your registration.
×
Access to this Free Content Requires Users to be Registered and Logged In. Please Choose One of the Following Options
Sign in below to access your subscription for full content
INDIVIDUAL SIGN IN
Sign In|Set Up Account
You will be directed to acponline.org to register and create your Annals account
Annals of Internal Medicine
CREATE YOUR FREE ACCOUNT
Create Your Free Account|Why?
To receive access to the full text of freely available articles, alerts, and more. You will be directed to acponline.org to complete your registration.
×