Need for near Vision in Daily Work in Different Occupational Groups

Abstract

To evaluate the need, characteristics and proportion of occupational accurate close work in different socio-economic groups we sent a questionnaire to all 26- and 46-year-old people in the Jyväskylä district. 1 503 (75%) of the 26-year-old subjects and 1 035 (78%) of the 46-year-old subjects returned the questionnaire. 71% of the 26-year-old subjects and 68% of the 46-year-old subjects reported that they need accurate near vision in their daily work. Accurate near vision was needed for reading and writing in 61% in the younger and 55% in the older age group, industrial quality control in 14% in the younger and in 26% in the older age group, Visual Display Unit work in 7% in both age groups, and other accurate close work in 19% in the younger and in 12% in the older age group. The results show that there is a need for accurate near vision in most occupations and indicate that the visual acuity and refraction of the employee requiring occupational accurate near vision should be examined when newly employed and when having problems with near work.