Abstract:

Objective To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of the population with visual impairment attending Ningxia disabled rehabilitation center. Design Cross-sectional study. Participants 322 cases with visual impairment attending Ningxia disabled rehabilitation center were selected. Methods The clinical records of the patients attending Ningxia disabled rehabilitation center between January, 2015 and December, 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. The main data were age, gender, education, visual acuity, diagnosis and prescription of low vision aids.  Main Outcome Measures Age, gender, category of visual impairment, cause of visual impairment and prescription of low vision aids. Results Of the 322 patients, 56.2% were male. The mean age was 50.9±16.2 years. The majority (65.2%) of the patients were aged 40~69 years. There were 39.1% with moderate visual impairment, 15.5% with severe visual impairment and 45.3% with blindness. The leading causes of visual impairment were degenerative myopia（16.5%）. The most frequently prescribed low vision aids was non-optical aids（54.2%）. Near aids (45.1%) were dispensed more than distant aid tools (0.7%). The commonest near aids were handheld magnifier (35.9%) and spectacle-type magnifiers (32.3%). Conclusions  The majority of patients with visual impairment were elderly, the main cause of visual impairment was degenerative myopia. Non-optical aids had great help to patients' daily life. Near aids were dispensed more than distant aid tools. (Ophthalmol CHN, 2017, 26: 135-138)

Key words:  visual impairment, degenerative myopia, low vision aids