Uncorrected or untreated vision problems and occupational injuries among the adolescent and adult population in Australia
Publication Details
Lam, L. T. (2008). Uncorrected or untreated vision problems and occupational injuries among the adolescent and adult population in Australia. Injury Prevention, 14(6), 396-400. doi: 10.1136/ip.2008.018846
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the relationship between uncorrected or untreated vision problems and occupational injuries in the adolescent and adult population in Australia. Design: National Health Survey conducted via personal interviews with a stratified random sample.
Setting: Population-based.
Subjects: Individuals selected from the total population aged 15 or older.
Exposure measures: Information on uncorrected or untreated vision problems was collected by personal interview via responses to screening questions.
Main outcome measures: Information on occupational injuries also collected via personal interview.
Results: After adjustment for potential confounders, the odds of occupational injury increased by 60% (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.11 to 2.24) for those who had any uncorrected or untreated vision problems, and by 3 times (OR = 3.52, 95% CI = 1.64 to 7.55) for those with untreated macular degeneration compared with healthy subjects.
Conclusions: Uncorrected or untreated vision problems, particularly macular degeneration, significantly increased the risk of occupational injury. Vision examination should be recommended and implemented regularly for all workers.
Keywords
peer-reviewed, macular degeneration
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