Visual Acuity of the Hospitalized Veteran

The visual status of 88,341 hospitalized veterans receiving care at Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Centers on October 4, 1978, was determined, based on clinical records and on personal observations by registered nurses. For 72% of this group of veterans, there were no notations of either eye or vision care rendered within the preceding 2 years. Within the group which had received eye or vision care within the prior 2 years, the combined incidence of legal blindness [visual acuity < 6/60 (20/200)] and low vision [defined here as visual acuity between 6/15 (20/50) and 6/ 30 (20/100)] was 40%. These data are analyzed further, and implications concerning optometric care are discussed.