Research

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of uncorrected refractive error (URE) and its factors in a socially vulnerable older population in Armenia. A total of 485 participants underwent comprehensive eye examinations. The study found that 26% of participants had URE, which significantly affected their visual acuity. Among those with URE, 82.8% had visual impairment, and 17.2% were classified as blind. The prevalence of URE increased with age, and lower education levels were associated with a higher risk of URE. After best correction, the rate of normal vision (≥6/12) improved from 58.9% to 81.5%, while the rate of visual impairment (<6/12) decreased from 41.1% to 18.5%. Logistic regression analysis showed that, after adjusting for demographic factors and eye care service utilization, only education remained significantly associated with URE. The study suggests that URE is a significant issue in socially vulnerable older adults in Armenia and highlights the need for eye screening programs and affordable spectacle correction services. Increasing awareness of URE, especially among those with lower education levels, could help reduce its prevalence in this population. However, the study's generalizability to the broader socially vulnerable older population in Armenia may be limited.