Survey of Causes of Blindness on Hospital Patients in Korea: Second Report.

Koo, Bon Sool; Chai, Byoung Sik

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 1974;15(1):22-35.
Published online January 1, 1974.

Survey of Causes of Blindness on Hospital Patients in Korea: Second Report.

Bon Sool Koo, Byoung Sik Chai

Department of Ophthalmology, Chung Ang University, Medical School, Seoul, Korea.

한국인 실명원인에 관한 역학조사 ( 제2보 )

구본술 , 채병식 ( Bon Sool Koo , Byoung Sik Chae)

Abstract

This is to report the figures of the second survey of causes of blindness on 94,799 eye patiens from various hospitals (total 17 in number) in Korea during 1971 and 1972. Blindness is defind as visual acuity for distance of 0.1 (20/200) or less in the better eye with best correction. Representation of diagnosis of ocular affection is based on examination of ophthalmologists, and the Standard Classification of Causes of Blindness recommended by the International Association for the Prevention of Blindness (revised) is applied. Estimated number of blindness is 1.763(1.9%). Proportion of blindness by causes indicates: Senile cataract (30.26%), Systemic diseases(15.02%), Other diseases (13.64%), Glaucoma(9.58%). Injury and poisoning(9.13%), Refractive errors (8.22%). Congenital diseases(5.64%), and Infectious diseases (5.14%), etc. Rate of blindness by site and type of affection is shown as: Lens disorders (cataract), (36.10%), Retinal diseases(13.18%), Optic nerve diseases(9.33%), Corneal diseases(8.70%), Refractive errors (8.16%), Glaucoma (7.87%), and Other diseases (6.24%), etc. Comparisons with other statistics on causes of blindness of the inland and the foreign countries are attempted. Evaluation of results and problems establishing a more detailed and nationwide survey in future are briefly discussed in comment. (This survey and report are supported by a Grant from the Research Institute of Medical Science of Korea, Inc.)