Posted: 12/18/08
A study published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases showed that nearly all of the long term hemodialysis patients who were 65 years or older had some degree of visual impairment. The results were surprising. A large majority exhibited visual acuity levels below what was expected for their age. Contrast sensitivity and depth perception were poor in about a third of the participants. Thirty-nine percent met the criteria for legal blindness. These results were not wholly unexpected since many on dialysis also suffer from high blood pressure and diabetes, which can also cause vision problems. While dialysis treatment in itself can cause financial burdens for even those with good health insurance plans, it is also important to consider health insurance coverage for vision plans. Low vision assessment and vision rehabilitation may be useful in elderly dialysis patients, according to the researchers. In addition, simple measures such as improved lighting can help improve problems with decreasing visual acuity.
Related Links
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_72506.html
