THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING GOOD VISION AMONG OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR VIEWS ON IMPROVING ACCESS TO PREVENTIVE VISION CARE
Author(s)
leyi liang, MSc, Tina Jinxiao Lian, PhD, Kwok Cheung Lam, PhD, Keng Hung Yap, PhD.
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
OBJECTIVES: Preventive vision care (PVC) enables early detection and timely management of eye conditions to achieve the value of eye health, yet barriers to accessing PVC are pervasive in ageing societies. To inform a value-based PVC service delivery model, this study aimed to explore the importance of maintaining good vision among older adults and their views on improving access to PVC.
METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or above in Hong Kong, who were purposively recruited from public parks, government elderly centres, and the University research centre. Interview guides first explored whether and how maintaining good vision was important in participants’ daily lives. With reference to the current local service delivery, the interview guides then elicited their views on improving access to PVC. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.
RESULTS: Older adults viewed good vision as the basis for a fulfilling later life. It enabled them to uphold selfhood, safeguard health and safety, sustain family roles, and contribute to social cohesion. To improve access to PVC, they recommended enhancing public understanding and perceived need, and improving service navigation. Additional facilitators included transportation arrangements, service quality improvements, and financial subsidies for PVC. While the PVC delivery coordinated by the District Health Centre (DHC) was viewed as promising, limited capacity and stakeholder engagement were noted as potential implementation barriers.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings broaden the concept of value in eye health, extending it beyond individual benefit to encompass families, communities, and society, thereby informing future value assessment of eye care from a whole-health perspective. Incorporating older adults’ views into the DHC-coordinated PVC pathway offers a promising route to optimize access, though successful implementation of people-centric service delivery will require enhanced capacity and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or above in Hong Kong, who were purposively recruited from public parks, government elderly centres, and the University research centre. Interview guides first explored whether and how maintaining good vision was important in participants’ daily lives. With reference to the current local service delivery, the interview guides then elicited their views on improving access to PVC. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.
RESULTS: Older adults viewed good vision as the basis for a fulfilling later life. It enabled them to uphold selfhood, safeguard health and safety, sustain family roles, and contribute to social cohesion. To improve access to PVC, they recommended enhancing public understanding and perceived need, and improving service navigation. Additional facilitators included transportation arrangements, service quality improvements, and financial subsidies for PVC. While the PVC delivery coordinated by the District Health Centre (DHC) was viewed as promising, limited capacity and stakeholder engagement were noted as potential implementation barriers.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings broaden the concept of value in eye health, extending it beyond individual benefit to encompass families, communities, and society, thereby informing future value assessment of eye care from a whole-health perspective. Incorporating older adults’ views into the DHC-coordinated PVC pathway offers a promising route to optimize access, though successful implementation of people-centric service delivery will require enhanced capacity and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-09, ISPOR Asia Pacific 2026, Bangkok, Thailand
Value in Health, Volume 55, Issue S1
Code
HSD13
Topic
Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, SDC: Sensory System Disorders (Ear, Eye, Dental, Skin)