Purpose: To clarify the current status and problems of municipalities that determine grants for the expenses of prosthetic devices used by visually impaired individuals.
Subjects and methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey of 1,741 municipalities across Japan. In this study, questions were limited to the ones related to contact lenses and absorptive glasses. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals in charge of prosthetic devices regarding the current situation, problems, contact lenses, and absorptive glasses in two cities-City A and City B.
Results: We received responses from 909 municipalities (response rate: 52.2%). Most responses indicated that they were "not troubled" regarding the issue of contact lenses; however, the reason for this was "never having been issued contact lenses." Responses to the question of whether absorptive glasses were issued based on absorptive rate were "No" for 78% and "Yes" for 1%. In terms of whether corrective lenses were allowed to be added to absorptive glasses for visual field disorder alone, responses were "Yes" for 53% and "No" for 13%. The current status and problems revealed by the surveys were the same in both cities. While contact lenses were handled in the same way, absorptive glasses were handled differently.
Conclusions: Results indicated that although procedure and problems were the same for municipalities in determining grants for the expenses of prosthetic devices, there were differences in the actual decisions. It might be necessary to collaborate with ophthalmology departments to solve the problems noted.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc) 123: 24-31, 2019.