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Background. There is limited research conducted on uncorrected refractive errors, presbyopia, and spectacles use among the elderly population in residential care in developing countries such as India. We conducted a cross-sectional study among elderly in residential care to assess the spectacle coverage and spectacles usage in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Methods. All 524 residents in the 26 "homes for aged" institutions in the district were enumerated. Eye examination was performed that included visual acuity (VA) assessment for distant and near vision. A questionnaire was used to collect information on spectacles use. Results. 494/524 individuals were examined, 78% were women, and 72% had no education. The mean age of participants was 70 years. The spectacle coverage for refractive errors was 35.1% and 23.9% for presbyopia. The prevalence of current use and past use of spectacles was 38.5% (95% CI: 34.2-42.8; n = 190) and 17.2% (95% CI: 13.9-42.8), respectively. Conclusions. There is low spectacle coverage for both refractive errors and presbyopia among elderly individuals in residential care in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Appropriate service delivery systems should be developed to reach out this vulnerable group of seniors on a priority basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 84-year-old woman with age-related macular adegeneration (AMD) who agreed to undergo visual assessment and activity of daily living (ADL) function for a study on AMD. According to the patient's ophthalmologist, she does not wear spectacles for distance or near because they give no noticeable improvement to her vision. The case highlights that functional vision tests would benefit from inclusion of the patient's strategies for adaptation to loss of vision.