The importance of ophthalmic diseases in the economy and national health care system.
The incidence of eye diseases in Finland and the use of glasses has not been much investigated. During 1979-80 an inquiry was made in which a questionnaire was sent by mail to 12 000 people. 1500 volunteers from Estern, Western and Southern Finland were invited to a clinical eye examination. The incidence of eye diseases was low. A little over 2% of the respondents needed continuous ophthalmic treatment. The mean visual acuity was normal in 80% with glasses. About half of the patients examined wore glasses, slightly more females than males.
D000328:Adult; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity