Causes of Blindness in Indiana

Abstract

The following report, based on the physical ocular examinations of 2,657 applicants for blind pension in the state °f Indiana, gives a fair insight into the common causes of blindness in the midwestern part of the United States. The examinations were made by physicians Practicing in or near the county in which the applicant resided, and the examiner was either an oculist or an eye, ear, nose, and throat specialist, as required by the Welfare Act of Indiana for 1936. As a standard qualifying requirement, the central vision of the better eye of the applicant had to be reduced to 20/200 or less. All of the individuals included l n this analysis were so handicapped. All applicants were adults. However, not ah applicants were eligible for blind Pension because of other considerations ; usually financial support from other sources. Through the cooperation of the National Society for the Prevention of blindness, a standard form of the causes ()f blindness, prepared by the Committee on Statistics of the Blind, was obtained. proceeding w i t h this chart, which has a Retailed cross-classification of topograph_al listings—such as, glaucoma, cataract, ' r ' t is, and comcal opacity—along its upper o der, and etiological factors—such as, ophthalmia neonatorum, syphilis, trach> a n d diabetes—on the side margin, a Pographical and an etiological factor was listed on each of the 2,657 individual r e c o r d s After this was accomplished, it