Abstract:
This study describes the eye health of newly arrived refugees attending a state-funded health service in Adelaide, South Australia, helping to address the paucity of data on the eye health of refugees. Patients attending the Refugee Health Service undergo comprehensive assessment by an on-site optometrist with accredited interpreters if they have eye symptoms, personal or family history of eye disease, or visual impairment (using World Health Organization definitions). A retrospective audit of this service was performed to obtain patient demographics, presenting best-corrected distance visual acuity (better-seeing eye), diagnoses, and management. In 2017-2018, 494 of the 1400 refugees attending the service underwent an optometry assessment (age range 1-86 years, mean age 33.1 ± 18.6 years, 53% female). Regions of origin included the Middle East (25%), Bhutan (24%), Afghanistan (22%), Myanmar (15%), and Africa (14%). Of the 124 cases of visual impairment, 78% resolved with corrective lenses and 11% were due to cataracts. Ophthalmology follow-up was required for 56 (11%) patients, mostly for cataracts (22 patients). Newly arrived refugees have high rates of visual impairment from refractive error and cataracts. Integration of optometry and state-based refugee health services may improve the timely detection and treatment of these conditions.
摘要:
这项研究描述了在阿德莱德接受国家资助的医疗服务的新抵达难民的眼睛健康状况,南澳大利亚,帮助解决难民眼睛健康数据匮乏的问题。参加难民健康服务处的病人如有眼部症状,须由现场验光师与认可的口译员进行全面评估,个人或家族眼病史,或视力损害(使用世界卫生组织的定义)。对这项服务进行了回顾性审计,以获取患者的人口统计信息,呈现最佳矫正的远距视力(更好的眼睛),诊断,和管理。在2017-2018年,参加该服务的1400名难民中有494名接受了验光评估(年龄范围1-86岁,平均年龄33.1±18.6岁,53%女性)。原产地包括中东(25%),不丹(24%)阿富汗(22%)缅甸(15%)非洲(14%)。在124例视力障碍病例中,用矫正镜片解决了78%,而11%是由于白内障。56例(11%)患者需要眼科随访,主要用于白内障(22名患者)。新来的难民因屈光不正和白内障而视力受损的比率很高。视光和基于国家的难民保健服务的整合可以改善对这些疾病的及时发现和治疗。