Visual acuity screening of patients who are institutionalized and suffering from mental disorders

OBJECTIVE: Visual problems in persons who are institutionalized suffering from mental disorders are overwhelmingly under-recognized. The aim of this study was therefore to screen for visual acuity among 285 patients at the St. AnnAEs Psychiatric Hospital (SAH) and 27 at the Arima Rehabilitation Centre (ARC). The projected number of patients to be screened was 427 persons. However, only 312 inpatients were included to participate in the study. The study evaluated the patients who were chosen to assess their visual acuity. The project was conducted from August to December, 2011. DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 312 inpatients admitted to the hospital and rehabilitation centre with mental disorders were evaluated using either the Snellen or Lea Charts by trained technicians from the Lions Club of Trinidad and Tobago. The evaluations were conducted for four months on 25 wards and at the Arima Rehabilitation Centre. A Stereo Optical Vision Tester was used for the evaluation of patients using a Snellen Chart and/or a Lea Chart. Analysis was done using SPSS version 20.0. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-five (125) patients were found to have visual acuity problems and recommended for further evaluation by an ophthalmologist. This represents 40.1% of the sample tested. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings coincided with the existing literature that visual impairment appears to be an area of physical health which is under-recognized, under-diagnosed and under-treated in people with severe mental health problems, even though certain psychiatric medications are known to cause visual problems as a side effect.