Epidemiological Analysis and Low Vision Rehabilitation of the Visually Impaired Registered in Seoul.

Park, Jong Hwa; Lee, Jin Yong; Kim, Yoon; Moon, Nam Ju

doi:2009.50.4.572

J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > Volume 50(4); 2009 > Article

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2009;50(4):572-579.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2009.50.4.572 Published online April 30, 2009.

Epidemiological Analysis and Low Vision Rehabilitation of the Visually Impaired Registered in Seoul.

Jong Hwa Park, Jin Yong Lee, Yoon Kim, Nam Ju Moon

¹Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea. njmoon@chol.com
²Department of Health Policy and Management, College of medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

서울지역에 등록된 시각장애인의 역학적 분석과 저시력 재활치료

박종화¹ㆍ이진용²ㆍ김 윤²ㆍ문남주¹

Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University¹, Seoul, Korea Department of Health Policy and Management, College of medicine, Seoul National University², Seoul, Korea

Abstract

PURPOSE
To analyze the clinical manifestations, epidemiology and low vision rehabilitation results of the visually impaired registered in Seoul, Korea. METHODS: Using a randomized, stratified systematic sampling method, we selected 60 participants registered as visually impaired who lived in Seoul. Ophthalmologic examinations of these participants were performed by one ophthalmologist. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 55.0+/-11.6 years. The rank 6 was the most common visual disability degree (40.0%). Ocular trauma (21.3%), optic neuropathy (20.2%) and glaucoma (11.2%) were the most common causes for visual disability. The distribution ratios of low vision and blindness were 34.4+/-11.9% and 19.7+/-10.0%, respectively. Low vision rehabilitation was performed (low vision patients, n=17), and both near and distance visual acuities improved (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Low vision rehabilitation would be a great help to the visually impaired.

Key Words: Low vision;Rehabilitation;Visually impaired registered