Prevalence of visual impairment in the adult Japanese population by cause and severity and future projections

Abstract

Purpose: To present a comprehensive estimate of the total number of people with visual impairment in the adult Japanese population by age, gender, severity and cause, and to estimate future prevalence based on population projections and expected demographic changes. Methods: Definitions of visual impairment used in this study were based on the United States criteria. Total visual impairment was calculated as the sum of low vision and blindness. The prevalence estimates were based on input from a number of Japanese epidemiological surveys, census material and official population projections. Results: There were an estimated 1.64 million people with visual impairment in 2007 in Japan. Of these..