Dialysis Treatment Clears The Blood, But Does It Cloud The Vision?

Main Category: Urology / Nephrology
Also Included In: Eye Health / Blindness
Article Date: 02 Dec 2008 - 1:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

Magnifying glasses may soon join the dialysis machine as essential equipment in dialysis centers around the country. A new study, published in the December issue of American Journal of Kidney Diseases, the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation, suggests that elderly dialysis patients suffer high rates of visual impairment.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, the elderly represent well over half of the U.S. dialysis population-a number that recently reached 355,000.

Researchers at the University of Toronto studied 159 hemodialysis patients, all of whom were over the age of 65. The patients were asked to participate in a series of tests to assess their vision, including a visual acuity test, a contrast sensitivity test and a depth perception test. The visual acuity test measured the patients' overall vision functioning, while the contrast sensitivity and depth perception tests focused on the patients' ability to distinguish between objects of different shades of color and the ability to determine relative distances between and within objects.

A surprising 39% of study participants were found to have significant visual impairment, compared to 28% of healthy people over 70 who experience irreparable visual damage. Specifically, 96% had visual acuity levels less than age-expected values, 37% had poor contrast sensitivity and 31% failed the depth perception test.

Co-investigator Vanita Jassal, MD, expected that dialysis patients would have a high rate of visual impairment due to the large percentage of this population that suffers from diabetes and hypertension, two conditions that are strongly associated with visual loss. However, Jassal did not anticipate the exceedingly high number with severe depth perception issues.

Jassal does not believe that dialysis itself causes retinal damage but says the study's findings underscore the high burden of vascular and other diseases born by dialysis patients.

"As clinicians, we don't necessarily appreciate what loss of vision means to our patients," says Jassal. "If we're explaining monthly lab results by pointing to a chart and they can't see what we're referring to, they are missing out on key information that they need in order to stay on top of their own health care."

Impaired vision is strongly associated with accidental falls which are in turn related to death, hospitalization and long term institutional care, costing the U.S. an average of $5 billion.

"The degree to which the study participants suffer from vision damage, particularly depth perception problems, can have a major impact on their lives. Depth perception is necessary for basic activities, such as climbing stairs and avoiding obstacles when walking. Especially important for dialysis patients, loss of depth perception affects their ability to follow critical medication regimens," continued Jassal.

Small Steps Can Make A Big Difference

Simple measures may help ease the burden of vision impairment, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Improved lighting in dialysis units, large magnifiers, and modified educational materials with large type and high contrasts can be inexpensive and effective ways to improve patient functioning.

The National Kidney Foundation is dedicated to preventing and treating kidney and urinary tract diseases, improving the health and well being of individuals and families affected by these diseases and increasing availability of all organs for transplantation.

To learn more about kidney failure and treatment options, including various types of dialysis, contact the National Kidney Foundation at http://www.kidney.org.

National Kidney Foundation