title: [Ophthalmic relief activities conducted by Iwate Medical University after the Great East Japan Earthquake].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the ophthalmic relief activities conducted by Iwate Medical University after the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was conducted of the medical records of patients who visited emergency ophthalmic clinics opened at Yamada-cho, Otsuchi-cho and Rikuzentakada-shi from March 30, 2011 to June 30, 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We provided ophthalmic medical care for 14 days at Yamada-cho and Otsuchi-cho, and for 9 days at Rikuzentakada-shi. During this period, 1371 new patients (total of 2015 patients) visited the clinics. The main motives were a desire for prescription of medication, treatment of ocular symptoms and correction of refractive error and presbyopia. The major diseases were cataract, pseudophakia, refractive error, presbyopia and conjunctivitis. Only a few patients had a foreign body in the eye or ocular trauma. Among the 207 patients with contact lenses, 24 patients were wearing them beyond their replacement date, and contact lens care was insufficient in 35 patients. Among 179 patients with glaucoma who were checked for intraocular pressure, 61 patients had an IOP greater than 21 mmHg.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although many patients sought eye drops for chronic eye diseases and correction of refractive error and presbyopia, patients with ocular injuries were few. It is important to prepare for whatever needs patients in emergency circumstances may present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Morioka 020-8505, Japan. goyasu@zf6.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: Yasutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gotoh
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Morioka 020-8505, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Morioka 020-8505, Japan.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohzeki
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Morioka 020-8505, Japan.
authors.forename: Sayano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Morioka 020-8505, Japan.
authors.forename: Daijiro
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kurosaka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055866:Earthquakes; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D012066:Relief Work; D012577:Schools, Medical