Abstract

Volume.124 Number.9

Original article : Clinical science

Results of a National Survey of Visual Impairment Certification: Investigation by Prefectures
Yuki Morizane1, Noriko Morimoto1, Ryo Kawasaki2, Atsushi Fujiwara1, Ryo Matoba1, Hidetoshi Yamashita3, Yuichiro Ogura4, Fumio Shiraga1
1 Department of Ophthalmology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University
2 Department of Ophthalmology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University
3 Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Yamagata University
4 Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences

Purpose: To evaluate the results of a national survey on visual impairment certification according to different prefectures.
Subjects and methods: The number of individuals certified as being visually impaired per 100,000 population (proportion of visually impaired individuals) and causative diseases were investigated according to different prefectures using data from a national survey of individuals who were newly certified as being visually impaired in fiscal 2015. Using linear regression analysis, we investigated correlations between the proportion of visually impaired individuals aged ≥ 65 years of the total population (elderly ratio [ER]), the number of ophthalmologists who were designated physicians under Article 15 of the Act for the Welfare of Persons with Physical Disabilities per 100,000 individuals (designated ophthalmologists ratio [DOR]), the number of ophthalmologists per 100,000 individuals (ophthalmologists ratio [OR]), income per prefectural resident (prefectural resident income), social welfare costs, elderly welfare costs, and DOR. We also analyzed the effects of ER and major causative diseases on the proportion of visually impaired individuals.
Results: The mean number of visually impaired individuals by prefecture (±standard deviation) was 13.3±2.6. ER and DOR were significantly correlated with the proportion of visually impaired individuals (p=0.001, regression coefficient [RC]=0.26, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.11-0.41; p=0.023, RC=0.31, 95% CI: 0.05-0.57, respectively). No correlations were observed between the proportion of visually impaired individuals and OR, prefectural resident income, social welfare costs, or elderly welfare costs. In 92.1% of prefectures, the top causative disease was glaucoma and the ER exhibited a significant correlation with the proportion of visually impaired individuals due to glaucoma (p=0.005, RC=0.16, 95% CI: 0.05-0.27).
Conclusions: ER and DOR were correlated with the proportion of visually impaired individuals according to different prefectures. ER affects the proportion of visually impaired individuals due to glaucoma.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc) 124: 697-704, 2020.

Key words
Visual impairment, Causative disease, Glaucoma, Aging, Act for the Welfare of Persons with Physical Disabilities (Article 15)
Reprint requests to
Yuki Morizane, M. D., Ph. D.　Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
Received: 5 February 2020. Accepted in revised form: 19 May 2020.
Nihon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi 124: 697-704,2020