Visual impairment and low vision in Korea

Background: Approximately 250,000 visually impaired people were registered in Korea in 2021, and eye diseases are often accompanied by various systemic diseases. This study aims to investigate the epidemiology, causative disease, and rehabilitation treatment for visually impaired and low-vision patients.Current Concepts: Visual impairment ranges from blindness in one eye to total blindness. Low vision refers to the visual acuity of 0.3 to 0.05 in the better eye, and the visual field is narrowed to less than 10 degrees. The common causes of visual impairment eye disorders include macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic maculopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, and congenital diseases. Among them, macular degeneration has been increasing significantly in recent years. If the disability is not changed, it is difficult to improve vision through treatment. The aim of treatment should be to retain the remaining visual function through the low vision aids for the visually impaired person.Discussion and Conclusion: Although various visual aids are being distributed, medical insurance coverage does not align with the need for improvement. Like other disabilities, multidisciplinary approaches to the visually impaired people are necessary. In addition, awareness of low vision should be improved so that there are no visually impaired and low vision people who are placed in a blind spot and suffer inconvenience.