The cause and variation tendency of visual disability in Tianjin city

Abstract

Objective To provide the valuable data for preventing blindness and low vision rehabilitation, the main causes and variation tendency of visual disability in Tianjin City in recent ten years. Methods A total of 400 patients with visual disability were selected randomly from the data bank of Tianjin City visual disability patients in year of 2000 and year of 2010 respectively. The best corrected visual acuity was confirmed by autorefractor and subjective refraction. The anterior segment and ocular fundus were examined by slitlamp biomicroscopy and direct ophthalmoscopy. The visual fields, ultrasound biomicroscopy, fundus photography or electrophysiological examinations were taken for further diagnosis. The main causes of diseases were analyzed. Results The average ages of disabled population in year of 2000 was 44.7±12.4 years old (range 5-78 years old) and the average ages of disabled population in year of 2010 was 50.9±13.3 years old (range 6-80 years old). The difference of mean ages was significant (t=8.43, P=0.000) between the two groups of people. There were 163 cases (81.5%) of low vision patients and 37 cases (18.5%) of blind patients in year of 2010, the ratio of low vision and blind patients was 4.4:1. There were 125 cases (62.5%) of low vision patients and 75 cases (37.5%) of blind patients in year of 2010, the ratio of low vision and blind patients was 1.7:1. The proportion between low vision and blindness was significant (χ2=17.91, P=0.001) between the two groups of patents. The main causes of visual disability were high myopic retinopathy35.0% (70/200), congenital anomaly 24.0% (48/200) and corneal disease 19.0% (38/ 200) in year of 2000, and diabetic retinopathy 33.5% (67/200), high myopic retinopathy 22.0% (44/ 200) and congenital anomaly 12.0% (24/200) in year of 2010. Conclusions The main causes and degree of severity of visual disability are varied in recent ten years. The high myopic retinopathy, congenital anomaly and corneal disease are the main causes of visual disability in the past ten years. But in recent years, the diabetic retinopathy and high myopic retinopathy are the main causes of visual disability. The degree of severity of visual disability is also severe in recent years. Key words: Visual disability; Blindness; Low vision; Causes; Tianjin