Is Eyecare Improving for People with ID? Data from vision screening of Special Olympics athletes Data from vision screening of Special Olympics athletes J. Margaret Woodhouse, Gordon Ilett, Caroline Hurst Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes GB

Background Compared to the general population, people with intellectual disability: Are less likely to access regular eye tests Are more likely to need to wear glasses Are more likely to have eye conditions that are left untreated

Aims of Opening Eyes Offer vision screening for athletes Provide new glasses when they are needed Refer for appropriate medical treatment Raise awareness of the need for eye care Train optometrists in the skills to see people with ID Cardiff 2001 Glasgow 2004 Leicester 2009 Opening Eyes has been present at THREE UK Summer Games

Hypothesis If Opening Eyes is successful in raising awareness of the need for eye care for people with ID, then: Athletes should be having more regular eye tests More athletes should already have glasses Fewer athletes should need new specs Fewer athletes should have treatable eye conditions Habitual visual acuities should be better, because of spec wear and treatment of eye conditions

Cardiff 2001 Glasgow 2005 Leicester 2009 Number of athletes screened Age9-69, mean 27.3 years 8-70, mean 28.1 years 8-77, mean 28 years

Cardiff 2001 Glasgow 2005 Leicester 2009 stats Last eye examination (percentages) < 1 year Χ 2 =85.2 p<0.001 Sig. 1-3 years > 3 years Never Don’t know Hypothesis is upheld, but ‘Don’t knows’ form a large proportion Hypothesis - Athletes should be having more regular eye tests

Glasgow 2005Leicester 2009 OE beforeNo OEOE beforeNo OE Last eye examination (percentages) (excluding don’t knows) < 1 year years > 3 years Never

Cardiff 2001 Glasgow 2005 Leicester 2009 stats Percentage who already have glasses Χ 2 =0.41 p=0.82 NS Percentage using glasses for VA Hypothesis – More athletes should already have glasses Hypothesis – not upheld

Cardiff 2001 Glasgow 2005 Leicester 2009 Athletes without current glasses, given Rx Is it the case that all athletes who should have glasses already have them? There are still athletes who need glasses

Cardiff 2001 Glasgow 2005 Leicester 2009 stats Athletes issued first or new Rx Χ 2 =20.0 p<0.001 Sig. Hypothesis – Fewer athletes should need new glasses Hypothesis – not upheld

Cardiff 2001 Glasgow 2005 Leicester 2009 stats Lens opacities Χ 2 =54.2 p<0.001 sig. Cataract Tropia (squint, strabismus) Distance Χ 2 =6.87 p=0.032 Sig. Near Χ 2 =19.5 p<0.001 Sig. Hypothesis – Fewer athletes should have treatable eye conditions Hypothesis – upheld

Cardiff 2001 Glasgow 2005 Leicester 2009 stats Habitual VA 0.3 (6/12) or poorer Χ 2 =34.3 p<0.001 Sig. Habitual VA poorer than 6/18 (WHO) Χ 2 =9.95 P=0.007 Sig. Hypothesis - Habitual visual acuities should be better, because of spec wear and treatment Hypothesis – upheld

Summary There are signs that overall, eye care for people with intellectual disability is improving MUCH more needs to be done We look forward to the day when all people with ID receive quality eye care within their own community

Thanks To all the athletes To all the volunteers To you for your attention