TY - JOUR
T1 - Impaired vision and the ability to take medications
AU - Windham, Beverly Gwen
AU - Griswold, Michael E.
AU - Fried, Linda P.
AU - Rubin, Gary S.
AU - Xue, Qian Li
AU - Carlson, Michelle C.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2005/7
Y1 - 2005/7
N2 - OBJECTIVES: To assess relationships between vision (contrast sensitivity, stereopsis, visual acuity) and a performance-based measure of ability to implement new medications. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis; prospective cohort study. SETTING: Community-based. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred thirty-five participants aged 73 to 82 in Year 3 of the Women's Health and Aging Study II, a representative sample of the two-thirds least-disabled community-dwelling women. MEASUREMENTS: Hopkins Medication Schedule Pillbox Ratio, a joint measure of accuracy and time, and a performance-based measure of ability to implement a prescription. Participants received written and verbal instructions for taking two medications and were directed to place pills in a pillbox accordingly. Vision assessments: contrast sensitivity (Pelli-Robson letter sensitivity chart), stereopsis (Randot Circles), and visual acuity (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study eye chart). RESULTS: Forty-four percent (148/335) of women incorrectly placed one or both medications. Each vision measure was positively associated with Pillbox Ratio scores and varied with cognition and time to completion. Better visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and stereopsis were each associated with better performance in women with poor cognition who filled the pillbox quickly. Additionally, better visual acuity was associated with better performance in participants with good cognition who filled the pillbox slowly; better stereopsis was associated with better performance in participants with poor cognition who filled the pillbox slowly and whose stereoacuity was below normal. CONCLUSION: Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and stereopsis should be considered potential risk factors for impaired ability to implement a medication regimen in older adults. Future research should investigate the role of vision, including contrast sensitivity and stereopsis, on performance of other instrumental activities of daily living.
AB - OBJECTIVES: To assess relationships between vision (contrast sensitivity, stereopsis, visual acuity) and a performance-based measure of ability to implement new medications. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis; prospective cohort study. SETTING: Community-based. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred thirty-five participants aged 73 to 82 in Year 3 of the Women's Health and Aging Study II, a representative sample of the two-thirds least-disabled community-dwelling women. MEASUREMENTS: Hopkins Medication Schedule Pillbox Ratio, a joint measure of accuracy and time, and a performance-based measure of ability to implement a prescription. Participants received written and verbal instructions for taking two medications and were directed to place pills in a pillbox accordingly. Vision assessments: contrast sensitivity (Pelli-Robson letter sensitivity chart), stereopsis (Randot Circles), and visual acuity (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study eye chart). RESULTS: Forty-four percent (148/335) of women incorrectly placed one or both medications. Each vision measure was positively associated with Pillbox Ratio scores and varied with cognition and time to completion. Better visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and stereopsis were each associated with better performance in women with poor cognition who filled the pillbox quickly. Additionally, better visual acuity was associated with better performance in participants with good cognition who filled the pillbox slowly; better stereopsis was associated with better performance in participants with poor cognition who filled the pillbox slowly and whose stereoacuity was below normal. CONCLUSION: Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and stereopsis should be considered potential risk factors for impaired ability to implement a medication regimen in older adults. Future research should investigate the role of vision, including contrast sensitivity and stereopsis, on performance of other instrumental activities of daily living.
KW - Adherence
KW - Contrast sensitivity
KW - Medications
KW - Stereopsis
KW - Visual acuity
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53376.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53376.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 16108936
AN - SCOPUS:24344475681
VL - 53
SP - 1179
EP - 1190
JO - Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
JF - Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
SN - 0002-8614
IS - 7
ER -