Self-reported visual difficulties in Europe and related factors: a European population-based cross-sectional survey

• Published in: Acta Ophthalmologica
• Main Authors: Leveziel, Nicolas, Marillet , Simon, Braithwaite, Tasanee, Peto, Tunde, Ingrand, Pierre, Pardhan, Shahina, Bron , Alain M., Jonas , Jost B., Resnikoff , Serge, Little , Julie‐Anne, Bourne, Rupert R.A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Iceland
• Online Access: https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/d978ce68-596b-4a87-a164-a4f595ad7f87; https://doi.org/10.1111/aos.14643; https://pureadmin.qub.ac.uk/ws/files/219267485/aos.14643.pdf

Purpose There is a relative paucity of self‐reported vision problems data in European countries. Methods In this context, we investigated self‐reported vision problems through European Health Interview Survey 2, a cross‐sectional European population survey based on a standardized questionnaire including 147 medical, demographic and socioeconomic variables applied to non‐institutionalized individuals aged 15 years or more in 28 European countries, in addition to Iceland and Norway. Results The survey included 311 386 individuals (54.18% women), with overall crude prevalence of self‐reported vision problems of 2.07% [95% CI; 2.01–2.14]. Among them, 1.70 % [1.61–1.78] of men, 2.41% [2.31–2.51] of women and 4.71% [4.53–4.89] of individuals aged 60 or more reported to have a lot of vision problems or to be not able to see. The frequency of self‐reported vision problems was the highest in Eastern European countries with values of 2.43% [2.30–2.56]. In multivariate analyses, limiting long‐standing illness, depression, daily smoking, lack of physical activity, lower educational level and social isolation were associated with self‐reported vision problems with ORs of 2.66 [2.42–2.92], 2.16 [2.01–2.32], 1.11 [1.01–1.23], 1.31 [1.21–1.42], 1.29 [1.19–1.40] and 1.45 [1.26–1.67], respectively, while higher income was associated with less self‐reported vision problems with OR of 0.80 [0.73–0.86]. Conclusions This study demonstrated inequalities in terms of prevalence of self‐reported vision problems in Europe, with higher prevalence in Eastern European countries and among women and older individuals.