Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health
Volume 63, Issue 1, 2008, Pages 13-16

Vision problems, eye care history, and ocular protection among migrant farmworkers (Article)

Quandt S.A. , Feldman S.R. , Vallejos Q.M. , Schulz M.R. , Verma A.B. , Fleischer A.A. , Arcury T.A.
  • a Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, United States, Wake Forest University, School of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States
  • b Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • c Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • d Department of Public Health Education, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, United States
  • e Department of Public Health Education, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, United States
  • f Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
  • g Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, United States

Abstract

In this article, the authors describe the self-reported eye conditions, eyecare history, and eye safety practices of migrant farmworkers in eastern North Carolina. The authors administered interviews to 79 farmworkers recruited at migrant clinics. Data collected included eye-related complaints and diagnoses, self-assessed visual acuity, eye symptoms, use of protective gear during work, and attitudes toward eye protection gear. Fair or poor eyesight was reported by 21.3%. Only 4 (5.1%) reported wearing glasses or contact lenses. More than 11% reported difficulty in recognizing a friend across the street, and 19.5% reported difficulty in reading. About 20% reported each of several eye symptoms. Fewer than 1 in 10 wore eye protection at work. Of all, 38% reported never having visited any eyecare professional. Farmworkers have a high level of unmet need for both routine preventive eye care and treatment or correction of vision problems. Copyright © 2008 Heldref Publications.

Author Keywords

Agricultural worker Latino Underserved occupational health

Index Keywords

visual impairment visual acuity spectacles agricultural worker eye care human Self Report Agriculture priority journal Aged dyslexia Eye protection interview United States migrant worker Humans attitude Adolescent male self evaluation female optometry visual disorder Eye Protective Devices Vision Disorders visual threshold contact lens eye protective device Article major clinical study adult migration occupational health Transients and Migrants visual memory anamnesis
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-45949109746&doi=10.3200%2fAEOH.63.1.13-16&partnerID=40&md5=4cb808f8b584a1c122eccdc67711be97
DOI: 10.3200/AEOH.63.1.13-16
ISSN: 19338244
Cited by: 19
Original Language: English