Changes in causes of visual handicaps in Tokyo.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The Tokyo Metropolitan Rehabilitation Center for the Physically and Mentally Handicapped opened in 1968, providing a consistent data source.
• Understanding trends in visual impairment is crucial for public health planning and resource allocation.
• Tokyo's population represents approximately 10% of Japan's total, making its data relevant to national trends.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze changes in the causes of visual handicaps among registered patients over a 20-year period (1968, 1978, 1988).
• To identify demographic and medical factors contributing to observed shifts in visual impairment etiology.
• To provide insights into the impact of medical advancements and societal changes on vision health.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of patient records from 1968, 1978, and 1988.
• Standardized examinations by the same physicians ensured diagnostic consistency.
• Data collection focused on the etiological causes of visual handicaps.

Main Results:

• Stable prevalence of high myopia, retinal degeneration, and senile cataract.
• Decreased incidence of corneal opacity, retinopathy of prematurity, congenital cataract, and optic atrophy.
• Increased incidence of diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and retinal macular degeneration.

Conclusions:

• Medical treatment advancements have likely reduced certain congenital and acquired visual impairments.
• The demographic shift towards an aging society in Japan correlates with an increase in age-related visual conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration.
• These epidemiological shifts necessitate adaptive strategies in rehabilitation and healthcare for the visually impaired.