Abstract
PURPOSE: To describe the results of a community-based eye screening program in Baltimore. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of the results of screening both eyes of 5352 persons who presented at multiple community sites. The screening examination had eight risk factor questions, visual acuity measurement, and a screening field test and was carried out by technicians and lay volunteers. Screened persons (screenees) received a definitive eye examination at no out-of-pocket cost, transportation was offered, and inexpensive eyeglasses were provided if needed. The main outcome measures were the rate of appointment keeping and the eye diseases identified. Telephone interviews were used to assess reasons for missing appointments and satisfaction with visits. RESULTS: Screenees had a median age of 45 years, were 71% black, 59% female, and had estimated median annual family income of $24,000. Among 1331 screenees who scheduled a definitive examination appointment, 552 (41%) completed the visit. Data on definitive diagnosis was available in 480 out of 552 persons (87%). Reasons given for failing to come for definitive examination were: no appointment given (26%), forgot (20%), lack of transportation (9%), and lack of insurance coverage (6%). Of those who accepted a second visit date after defaulting, only 25% (41/167) appeared. Of 17 persons identified with glaucoma at screening, 4 had previously been diagnosed, but had ceased active care. CONCLUSION: After community screening for eye disease, efforts to provide definitive ophthalmic examination were only modestly effective. Failure of screenees to come for examination and loss to follow up were identified as serious problems.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 386-392 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | American Journal of Ophthalmology |
| Volume | 133 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2002 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Supported in part by grants from the Aaron Straus and Lillie Straus Foundation, Baltimore, MD, the Hoffberger Foundation, Baltimore, MD, and the Local Initiatives Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Princeton, NJ.
Funding Information:
The Hoffberger Program for the Prevention of Blindness is a community-based vision screening program begun in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 and is funded by three charitable foundations. In this report, a retrospective review of cross-sectional data are presented to evaluate specific program outcomes. In particular, the outcomes of greatest interest were the proportion of screened persons (screenees) who came for definitive examination and what eye diseases they exhibited. Among nearly 13,000 screenees in the overall Hoffberger program, 5352 persons were screened in East Baltimore and definitive examinations were offered to this group at Johns Hopkins. These data comprise the present report. The data analysis was approved by the Joint Committee on Clinical Investigation of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and abided by the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.