Uncorrected or untreated vision problems and occupational injuries among the adolescent and adult population in Australia
- Centre for Trauma Care, Prevention, Education, and Research, The Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Sydney, Australia
- Dr L T Lam, The Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; lawrencl{at}chw.edu.au
- Accepted 20 May 2008
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 3½ 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.
Footnotes
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Competing interests: None.
