Vision impairment and refractive errors in refugees presenting to community optometry clinics in Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Background

There is a paucity of data relating to refugee eye health in Australia. This study aimed at investigating the spectrum of vision impairment and other ocular conditions in refugees utilising the Victorian Eyecare Service operated by the Australian College of Optometry.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study of electronic clinical records of 518 individuals (adults and children) recognised as refugees by the Australian College of Optometry and treated between January 2013 and May 2014 were identified. Extracted data included presenting visual acuities, best‐corrected visual acuities, and final refraction values (using spherical equivalents), for both eyes. Diagnoses of presenting ocular conditions were also extracted.

Results

Of all refugees examined, 129 (27.2 per cent) had some degree of vision impairment (≤ 6/9.5) based on presenting visual acuities in their better eye; five (1.0 per cent) being of a severe (≤ 6/60) or profound (≤ 6/120) nature. In contrast, 27 (6.3 per cent) refugees had some degree of vision impairment based on best‐corrected visual acuities in their better eye; two (0.4 per cent) being of a severe or profound nature. The prevalence of myopia (≥ −0.50 D) in the better eye was 23.0 per cent (n = 114); 25 (5.0 per cent) being moderate (≥ −3.00 D) to high (≥ −6.00 D). The prevalence of hypermetropia (≥ +2.00 D) in the better eye was 3.2 per cent (n = 16); 12 (2.4 per cent) being moderate (≥ +2.25 D) to high (≥ +5.25 D). The most common ocular conditions diagnosed at initial presentation were refractive error (n = 104, 20.1 per cent) and dry eyes (n = 57, 11.0 per cent).

Conclusion

Mild vision impairment and refractive error are significant issues for refugees attending the Australian College of Optometry, emphasising the need for optometry, particularly refractive, services in this population.

Key words:

• Australia
• eye health
• refractive error
• refugees
• vision impairment

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by funding from the BrightFocus Foundation, the Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia and a Ramaciotti Establishment Grant. The Principal Investigator, Dr Suganya Selvarajah, is supported by the Hugh Noel Puckle Scholarship, the University of Melbourne. Centre for Eye Research Australia receives operational infrastructure support from the Victorian Government. Victorian Department of Health and Human Services for funding of the Victorian Eyecare Service. A special thanks to Professor Sharon Bentley for her insights and expertise in optometry that greatly assisted the manuscript and also for her considerable support of the study.

Supporting information

Additional supporting information may befound in the online version of this article at the publisher’s website:

Appendix S1. Grouping of countries/world regions²⁷,* based on country of birth of cohort (n = 457, missing = 61).

Additional information

Funding

BrightFocus Foundation

Ramaciotti Foundations

The Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia

University of Melbourne