J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2020 Apr;61(4):407-411. 10.3341/jkos.2020.61.4.407.

Prevalence of Low Vision in 2017 Based on Korea National Health andNutritional Examination Survey

• Kim US
• Korean Low Vision Society

• KMID: 2500106
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2020.61.4.407

Abstract

Purpose
To investigate the prevalence of low vision and legal blindness based on the Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (2017).
Methods
Based on the results of the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey conducted in 2017, we analyzed 3,160 patients, 40-80 years of age, and measured the visual acuity among the total of 8,127 patients. The visual acuity was measured using Jin’s vision chart (for 4 m). When the uncorrected visual acuity was less than 0.8 in the first visual acuity test, vision was re-evaluated with correction using autorefractor. The analyses of the prevalence of low vision and legal blindness were based on the criteria of the World Health Organization: moderate visual impairment, 0.32-0.125; severe visual impairment, 0.1-0.025; and legal blindness, <0.025 in the better eye. We analyzed the occupational reclassification and unemployment/noneconomic activity population status codes of the questionnaire surveys.
Results
The prevalence of low vision included 46 (1.46%) patients among a total of 3,160 patients (mean age, 59.4 ± 11.8 years; male:female, 1,328:1,832) and visual impairment including low vision and legal blindness involved 74 (2.34%) patients. Seventy-six percent of the low vision patients were not designated with legal disabilities. In addition, 61.5% of the patients with low vision and 75.0% of the legally blind patients were unemployed.
Conclusions
Based on these results, it is necessary to study the precise condition of the low vision and legally blind patients, and to conduct comprehensive treatments for patients who cannot be covered by the Welfare Act for the Disabled.

Keyword

Blindness; Epidemiology; Low vision