Module 5: Children and the Elderly
Much of the focus in providing healthcare is on the average adult. However, children and the elderly are two populations who have special characteristics that are worthy of extra attention, and each has a vast body of associated research.
Elderly Populations
The elderly population is the largest age group of patients for ophthalmologists, which is unremarkable since many eye conditions are in fact associated with aging. However, research has shown that up to 30% of the elderly population who survive 5 years or more on the Medicare system never see an eye care provider during that time.(1) Meanwhile, having at least one eye care visit per year is associated with a “significantly lower risk of developing new limitations in both activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living.”(2)(3) Therefore, for members of the elderly population, major consequential issues exist in finding access to eye care. For this reason, we must take measures to ensure that the elderly have access to eye care and are encouraged to seek exams, diagnosis, and treatment. The health benefits are enormous.
Child Populations
Survey data collected from a National Health Interview Survey suggest that only 7.3% of 0-5 year old children receive annual eye checkups, and only 24.8% of children 6-17 years old receive annual eye exams.(4) “Because many eye and vision conditions that arise early in life can be prevented or treated successfully with early detection and intervention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Association of Certified Orthoptists, the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology jointly published a policy statement calling for periodic eye examinations and vision screenings for children starting as early as the newborn period.”(5) It is possible that it is lack of knowledge about the potential for eye conditions to develop in children that keeps parents from bringing their children to eye care checkups early. It is important to educate children and their parents about the importance of regular eye exams by eye doctors.
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Footnotes
(1) Lee P.P. et. al. “Longitudinal rates of annual eye examinations of persons with diabetes and chronic eye diseases.” Ophthalmology. Vol. 110 (2003) pp.1952-1959.
(2) Sloan F.A. et. al. “Longitudinal analysis of the relationship between regular eye examinations and changes in visual and functional status”. Journal of American Geriatric Sociology. Vol. 53 (2005) pp. 1867-1874.
(3) Lee, P.P. et. al. “Response of the American Academy of Ophthamology and Its Members to Societal Needs Now and in the Future” Archives of Ophthamology Vol. 125, No. 3 (2007) pp. 403-405.
(4) Kemper A.R., Bruckman D., Freed G.L. “Receipt of specialty eye care by children.” Ambul Pediatr. Vol. 3 (2003) pp. 270-274.
(5) Ganz, M.L. et. al. “Prevalence and Correlates of Children’s Diagnosed Eye and Vision Conditions” Ophthamology Vol. 113, No. 12 (2006) pp. 2298-2306.