UNCORRECTED REFRACTIVE ERROR AMONG A HOSPITAL POPULATION

— Patients admitted for general medical care to a North London Hospital were screened using a pinhole disc in conjunction with their usual visual aid. One third of the group showed significant improvement in visual acuity, suggesting a change in refractive correction was necessary. These people were not more likely to have had less recent eye examinations or to complain of poor vision. They were more likely to be over 50 years old, have poor mobility, to have no idea of cost of change in refractive correction and to subjectively note improvement in vision with pinhole disc.