Purpose: To report the ophthalmic relief activities conducted by Iwate Medical University after the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011.
Subjects and methods: A retrospective review was conducted of the medical records of patients who visited emergency ophthalmic clinics opened at Yamada-cho, Otsuchi-cho and Rikuzentakada-shi from March 30, 2011 to June 30, 2011.
Results: We provided ophthalmic medical care for 14 days at Yamada-cho and Otsuchi-cho, and for 9 days at Rikuzentakada-shi. During this period, 1371 new patients (total of 2015 patients) visited the clinics. The main motives were a desire for prescription of medication, treatment of ocular symptoms and correction of refractive error and presbyopia. The major diseases were cataract, pseudophakia, refractive error, presbyopia and conjunctivitis. Only a few patients had a foreign body in the eye or ocular trauma. Among the 207 patients with contact lenses, 24 patients were wearing them beyond their replacement date, and contact lens care was insufficient in 35 patients. Among 179 patients with glaucoma who were checked for intraocular pressure, 61 patients had an IOP greater than 21 mmHg.
Conclusions: Although many patients sought eye drops for chronic eye diseases and correction of refractive error and presbyopia, patients with ocular injuries were few. It is important to prepare for whatever needs patients in emergency circumstances may present.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc) 117: 911-917, 2013.