title: [Age, sex and diagnostic distribution of patients in  ophthalmological medical practice in Germany].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The ophthalmological patient care in Germany has changed over the past decades due to demographic and diagnostic facility change and the shift from inpatient to outpatient care.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the fourth quarter of 2010 a survey was conducted including almost 10 % of the patients of 96 ophthalmologists. The results for age, sex, main and secondary diagnosis and the main reason for the examination were examined and compared with those of surveys from 1966 and 1997.
  
  
  RESULTS
  15125 patients (median per doctor: 149, range: 45-376) were included in the survey. 58 % were women. The proportion of women was elevated in all decades compared to men, apart from the first age decade. The proportion of older patients (70 +) increased (1997: 25.3 %; 2010: 40.8 %) although the age distribution in Germany appears to be rather constant (1997: 11.9 %; 2010: 15.3 %). The proportion of examinations due to glaucoma, diabetes and vitreoretinal diseases increased by almost 60 % compared to 1997.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to the results of 1997, we observed a marked change from simple to differentiated cases in ophthalmological medical practice in Germany. The early diagnosis and therapy have to be guaranteed in the future taking into account the limited resources.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bertram
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gante
authors.forename: R-D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Hilgers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014822:Vitreous Body; D055815:Young Adult