Blindness and visual impairment in Central Europe

Abstract

Purpose To assess the prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness in a Central European country. The findings may have implications for the planning of further research and development of therapies in order to prevent blindness. Setting Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz, Austria. Design Retrospective, epidemiological study. Methods The database of the Main Confederation of Austrian Social Insurances was searched for patients with visual impairment, legal blindness or deaf-blindness. This database gathers data from patients of all insurance providers in the country who receive care due to visual impairment and blindness. To determine the prevalence of these conditions, the number of all entries recorded in February 2019 was evaluated. Additionally, all new entries between (January 1st,) 2017, and (December 31st,) 2018, were analysed for distinct characteristics, such as sex, the cause of blindness/visual impairment, and age. Since health care allowances can provide a considerable source of income (459.90€-936.90€ per month), good coverage of practically all patients who are blind and visually impaired in the country can be assumed. Results On February 2nd, 2019, 17,730 patients with visual impairments, blindness or deaf-blindness were registered in Austria, resulting in a prevalence of these diagnoses of 0.2% in the country. During the observational period from 2017 to 2018, 4040 persons met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 2877 were female (65.3%), and 1527 were male (34.7%). The mean age was 75.7 ± 18.0 years (median 82). Most patients (n = 3675, 83.4%) were of retirement age, while 729 (16.6%) were working-age adults or minors. In total, an incidence of 25.0 (95% confidence limit (CL) 24.3–25.8) per 100,000 person-years was observed from 2017 to 2018. A higher incidence was observed for females (32.2, 95% CL 31.0–33.3) than for males (17.7, 95% CL 16.8–18.5). Incidences where higher for males in lower age groups (e.g. 10–14 years: rate ratio RR = 2.7, 95% CL 1.1–6.8), and higher for females in higher age groups (e.g. 70–74 years: RR = 0.6, 95% CL 0.5–0.8). In total, the most frequent diagnoses were macular degeneration (1075 persons, 24.4%), other retinal disorders (493 persons, 11.2%) and inherited retinal and choroidal diseases (IRDs) (186 persons, 4.2%). Persons with IRDs were significantly younger compared to persons with macular degeneration or retinal disorders (IRDs: median 57, range 2–96 vs 83, 5–98 and 82, 1–98 years, p<0.001). For persons of retirement age, macular degeneration, other retinal disorders and glaucoma were the three most frequent diagnoses. In contrast, among working-aged adults and children, IRDs were the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness (103 persons, 14.1%). Conclusion These data show that IRDs are the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in working-aged persons and children in Austria. Thus, these findings suggest to draw attention to enhance further research in the fields of emerging therapies for IRDs.

Blindness and visual impairment and their causes in India: Results of a nationally representative survey

“…Other lesser important causes of blindness included posterior segment disorders and glaucoma. These two latter causes assume greater significance in the more industrialized nations, as reported by a blindness study from Central Europe [ 3 ].…”

“…The definitions of blindness have evolved over the years internationally and in India [ 2 ]. A contemporary blindness study from Central Europe defined blindness as visual acuity ≤ 1/60 without visual field defects, as visual acuity ≤ 2/60 with quadrantanopsia, as visual acuity ≤ 4/60 with hemianopsia, or as visual acuity 6/60 with tunnel vision [ 3 ]. Similarly, it defined visual impairment as visual acuity ≤ 3/60 without visual field defects, as visual acuity 6/60 with quadrantanopsia, as visual acuity 6/20 with hemianopsia, or as visual acuity ≤ 6/6 with tunnel vision.…”

Characteristics of Visual Impairment and the Impact of Low Vision Assessment in a Tertiary Academic Hospital in Jordan

“…Their findings showed that among the working-age adults and children in Austria, inherited retinal and choroidal diseases were the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness, drawing attention to further research in emerging treatments for those diseases. 32 …”

A védőnők szerepe a gyermekkori látásproblémák felismerésében

“…Két évtized alatt is jelentősen változtak a gyengénlátáshoz vezető kórokok [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] (1. táblázat). Az 1980-as évektől folyamatos emelkedést mutat a mentális károsodással vagy genetikai betegséggel társult gyengénlátás.…”