Is Eyecare Improving for People with ID?Is Eyecare Improving for People with ID? Data from vision screening of Special Olympics athletesData from vision screening of Special Olympics athletes

J. Margaret Woodhouse, Gordon Ilett, Caroline HurstJ. Margaret Woodhouse, Gordon Ilett, Caroline Hurst Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes GBSpecial Olympics Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes GB

BackgroundBackground

Compared to the general population, people with intellectual disability:

• Are less likely to access regular eye tests• Are more likely to need to wear glasses• Are more likely to have eye conditions that are left untreated

Aims of Opening Eyes• Offer vision screening for athletes• Provide new glasses when they are needed• Refer for appropriate medical treatment• Raise awareness of the need for eye care• Train optometrists in the skills to see people with ID

Cardiff 2001 Glasgow 2004 Leicester 2009

Opening Eyes has been present at THREEUK Summer Games

HypothesisHypothesis

If Opening Eyes is successful in raising awareness of the need for eye care for people with ID, then:

• Athletes should be having more regular eye tests

• More athletes should already have glasses

• Fewer athletes should need new specs

• Fewer athletes should have treatable eye conditions

• Habitual visual acuities should be better, because of spec wear and treatment of eye conditions

Cardiff 2001

Glasgow 2005

Leicester 2009

Number of athletes screened

505 796 799

Age 9-69, mean 27.3 years

8-70, mean 28.1 years

8-77, mean 28 years

Cardiff 2001

Glasgow 2005

Leicester 2009

stats

Last eye examination (percentages)

< 1 year 27.5 31.9 28.7

Χ2=85.2p<0.001

Sig.

1-3 years 23.3 16.4 27.0

> 3 years

15.2 15.2 12.9

Never 15.2 5.3 6.2

Don’t know

18.8 31.2 25.3

Hypothesis is upheld, but ‘Don’t knows’ form a large proportion

Hypothesis - Athletes should be having more regular eye tests

Glasgow 2005 Leicester 2009

OE before No OE OE before No OE

Last eye examination (percentages)(excluding don’t knows)

< 1 year 37.0 48.6 32.0 41.31-3 years 29.6 22.5 38.7 34.9> 3 years 27.8 20.6 26.3 12.8Never 5.6 8.3 3.1 11.0

Cardiff 2001

Glasgow 2005

Leicester 2009

stats

Percentage who already have glasses

53.6 55.6 53.8Χ2=0.41p=0.82

NSPercentage using glasses for VA

31.6 27.3

Hypothesis – More athletes should already have glasses

Hypothesis – not upheld

Cardiff 2001

Glasgow 2005

Leicester 2009

Athletes without current glasses, given Rx

19.8 17.4 15.9

Is it the case that all athletes who should have glasses already have them?

There are still athletes who need glasses

Cardiff 2001

Glasgow 2005

Leicester 2009

stats

Athletes issued first or new Rx 12.7 22.3 21.0

Χ2=20.0p<0.001

Sig.

Hypothesis – Fewer athletes should need new glasses

Hypothesis – not upheld

Cardiff 2001

Glasgow 2005

Leicester 2009

stats

Lens opacities

7.5 3.2 2.6Χ2=54.2p<0.001

sig.Cataract 4.9 3.8 1.7

Tropia (squint, strabismus)

Distance 23.0 25.1 19.4Χ2=6.87p=0.032

Sig.

Near 33.9 25.8 21.3Χ2=19.5p<0.001

Sig.

Hypothesis – Fewer athletes should have treatable eye conditions

Hypothesis – upheld

Cardiff 2001

Glasgow 2005

Leicester 2009

stats

Habitual VA 0.3 (6/12) or poorer

38.7 22.7 24.3Χ2=34.3p<0.001

Sig.

Habitual VA poorer than 6/18 (WHO)

14.8 11.3 9.0Χ2=9.95P=0.007

Sig.

Hypothesis - Habitual visual acuities should be better, because of spec wear and treatment

Hypothesis – upheld

Summary

• There are signs that overall, eye care for people with intellectual disability is improving

• MUCH more needs to be done

• We look forward to the day when all people with ID receive quality eye care within their own community

Thanks

• To all the athletes

• To all the volunteers

• To you for your attention