Visual impairments in elderly people under everyday viewing conditions

This study measured the conventional high-contrast visual acuity, low-contrast visual acuity, low-contrast, low-luminance (SKILL) acuity, contrast sensitivity, disability glare sensitivity, glare recovery, stereo acuity, and visual fields of 900 elderly persons, including 450 aged 75-100. Although the prevalence of legal blindness and low vision were relatively low under conventional conditions, there were dramatic increases in these two conditions under low luminance or glare conditions. The practical implications of these findings are discussed.