목적 : 본원 저시력 클리닉에 방문한 환자들의 연령 분포와 원인 질환을 분석하고, 학력, 직업, 장애등급을 조사하여 사회 복지적 측면에서 관찰하고자 하였다. 대상과 방법 : 2004년 3월부터 2006년 3월까지 본원 안과 저시력 클리닉을 방문한 환자 102명을 대상으로 후향적 방법으로 의무기록을 조사하여 연령, 시력 및 시력저하의 원인, 처방기구에 대해 확인하였으며, 학력, 직업 및 장애진단 발급 여부에 대해서는 직접적인 면담 및 전화 설문조사를 통하여 시행하였다. 결과 : 연령 분포는 기존보고와 달리 평균연령은 40.87±22.72세로 증가하였고, 40대 환자가 21명으로 가장 많았다. 원인 질환으로는 시신경 위축 17명, 황반부 변성 16명, 색소성 망막변성 12명, 선천백내장 11명, 녹내장 7명, 약시 7명 순이었다. 장애진단서는 102명 중 42명이 기존에 가지고 있었고, 41명은 새로 발급 받았다. 20세 미만의 학령기 환자 22명중 특수학교에 다니는 4명과 아직 학교를 들어가지 않은 1명을 제외하고 나머지는 일반학교에 다니고 있었으며, 20세 이상에서는 10명을 제외하고 고졸 이하의 학력을 가지고 있었고, 정기적인 직업은 14명에게만 있었다. 결론 : 점차 고령화 되는 사회에 맞게 연령관련성 질환이 증가하고 있으며, 저시력 환자의 교육환경에 대한 관심과 장애 진단에 발급에 대한 인식 변화가 필요하며 그럼으로써 많은 저시력인들에게 혜택이 돌아갈 것으로 생각된다.

Purpose: To analysis the epidemiology, distribution of age, and social welfare statue of low vision patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis of age, visual acuity, underlying ocular disease, and optical aids of 102 patients who visited our clinic from March 2004 to March 2006. We had an interview with patients about their educational background, jobs and registration of legal blindness. Results: The mean age was 40.87±22.72 years old and the patients in their forties were most common. The most frequent cause of low vision included optic atrophy (16.7%), macular degeneration (15.7%), retinitis pigmentosa (11.8%), congenital cataract (10.8%), glaucoma (6.9%), amblyopia (6.9%). 42 patients had already got the registration for legal blindness but, 41 patients were newly registered during this study. Under 20 years old, there were 17 general school students, 4 special school students, and 1 preschool child. Over 20 years old, there were only 14 patients who got regular job and all patients have educational attainment under high school graduate except 10 patients. Conclusions: The epidemiology of low vision has been changed to the aging society. And the registration of legal blindness criteria and understanding of low vision need to be changed. Moreover, understanding how low vision impacts lives is important to be able to provide better social services in the future.

Purpose: To analysis the epidemiology, distribution of age, and social welfare statue of low vision patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis of age, visual acuity, underlying ocular disease, and optical aids of 102 patients who visited our clinic from March 2004 to March 2006. We had an interview with patients about their educational background, jobs and registration of legal blindness. Results: The mean age was 40.87±22.72 years old and the patients in their forties were most common. The most frequent cause of low vision included optic atrophy (16.7%), macular degeneration (15.7%), retinitis pigmentosa (11.8%), congenital cataract (10.8%), glaucoma (6.9%), amblyopia (6.9%). 42 patients had already got the registration for legal blindness but, 41 patients were newly registered during this study. Under 20 years old, there were 17 general school students, 4 special school students, and 1 preschool child. Over 20 years old, there were only 14 patients who got regular job and all patients have educational attainment under high school graduate except 10 patients. Conclusions: The epidemiology of low vision has been changed to the aging society. And the registration of legal blindness criteria and understanding of low vision need to be changed. Moreover, understanding how low vision impacts lives is important to be able to provide better social services in the future.

Low vision, Epidemiology, Social welfare