[Evaluation of quality of life characteristics and grade of legal visual impairment].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the possible correlation between quality of life (QOL) characteristics and grades of legal visual impairment.


METHODS
Quality of life characteristics associated with various causes of visual loss were investigated in 237 Japanese patients in the low-vision care clinic at Tokyo University Hospital, who had been issued the official ID and handbook for the physically handicapped. The main causes of vision loss were glaucoma (87 patients), macular degeneration (35) and diabetic retinopathy (34). Using a previously developed questionnaire, we assessed the correlation between the disability index (DI) as a quality of life characteristic, and the grade of legal visual impairment.


RESULTS
Total DI was 1.24 +/- 0.43, showing a very significant correlation with Handicapped Handbook grades (r = -0.44, p < .0001). The correlation coefficients were -0.63 (p < 0.0001) for diabetic retinopathy, -0.50 (p = 0.002) for macular degeneration, and -0.16 (p = 0.14) for glaucoma patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The needs of low-vision patients correlate with the grade of legal visual impairment and it is important to understand that the needs of low vision patients differ for each disease.
Kunimatsu
Shiho
S
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Medicine, Shimotsuke, Japan.
Kato
Satoshi
S
Sumi
Izumi
I
Kitazawa
Mariko
M
Tamura
Megumi
M
Mishima
Asuka
A
Ochiai
Makiko
M
Yanagisawa
Mieko
M
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence