Abstract

Volume.128 Number.2

Original article : Clinical science

Survey on the Education of Low Vision Care in University's Medical School
Satoshi Ishiko1,2, Ryoko Harigai3, Tomomi Nishida-Shimizu4, Kyoko Fujita5, Kazuhide Kawase6,7, Sayaka Kamada8, Noriko Morimoto9, Miki Murakami10,11, Takuya Tsuji12,13, Mayumi Sainohira14,15
1 Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical University
2 Department of Ophthalmology, Moriyama Hospital
3 Division of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University
4 Department of Medical Treatment (2), Hospital, National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities
5 Department of Ophthalmology, Aichi Medical University
6 Yasuma Eye Clinic
7 Department of Ophthalmology Protective care for Sensory Disorders, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine
8 Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
9 Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
10 Murakami Eye Clinic
11 Department of Ophthalmology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
12 Tsuji Eye Clinic
13 Department of Ophthalmology, Kurume University School of Medicine
14 Department of Ophthalmology, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences
15 Miyata Eye Hospital

Purpose: To clarify the actual situation of education related to low vision care (LVC) for medical students, residents, and medical staff in the university's medical school.
Subjects and method: A questionnaire was administered to 82 universities in Japan.
Results: The response rate was 100%. LVC lectures were delivered at 35 universities (42.7%). LVC practices during clinical clerkship were conducted at 60 universities (73.2%). Among the 19 universities that did not offer LVC lectures or practices (23.2%), 17 universities (89.5%) responded that this survey increased their interest in introducing LVC lectures or practices. LVC education for residents was provided in 46 universities (56.1%). Among 35 universities lacking LVC education for residents or medical staff (42.7%), 13 universities (15.9%) did not provide LVC education for medical students. The proportion of universities offering LVC training was significantly higher in those with low-vision outpatient clinics and those employing ophthalmologists who had completed the workshop for ophthalmologists on prescribing and correctly fitting low vision aids for the visually impaired (workshop) than in those without these clinics or these ophthalmologists (p<0.01, respectively).
Conclusions: Although less than half of the universities provided LVC lectures as medical education for medical students, more than 70% offered LVC practice during clinical clerkship. The proportion of the universities that provided LVC education as postgraduate clinical practice was 60%. These results show that a certain number of ophthalmologists who do not receive LVC education during their university days are employed at the university they graduated from, suggesting that the number of ophthalmologists who do not have the opportunity to receive LVC education would continue to increase. For the widespread use of LVC education in medical students, it would be important to provide a chance to participate in LVC educational programs, such as the workshop, and expand the educational system by utilizing the knowledge of these ophthalmologists.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc) 128: 103-112, 2024.

Key words
Low vision care (LVC), Medical student, Medical school education, Clinical practice, The workshop for ophthalmologists on prescribing and correctly fitting low vision aids for the visually impaired
Reprint requests to
Satoshi Ishiko, M. D.　Department of Ophthalmology, Moriyama Hospital. 2-1-1-6 Miyamae, Asahikawa-shi 078-8392, Japan
Received: 27 March 2023. Accepted in revised form: 5 September 2023.
Nihon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi 128: 103-112,2024