Objective: To investigate the morbidities of low vision and blindness and the leading cause of blindness in residents aged >or= 60 years in Beixinjing blocks, Shanghai.
Methods: The vision archives were first established for total old residents. The pinhole visual acuity was recorded and classified under WHO grading system. Assigned ophthalmologic doctors assured the leading blind causes of every blind person.
Results: The response rates in 1994, 1997 and 2000 were 83.87%, 88.32% and 91.98% respectively. The morbidities of low vision and blindness in these 3 years were 3.61% and 1.51%, 2.31% and 1.09%, 1.31% and 0.71% respectively. The leading causes of blindness were degenerative retinopathy (including age-related maculopathy), cataract, corneal diseases and retinal angiopathy (including hypertensive and diabetic retinopathy, retinal artery or venous occlusion, etc).
Conclusions: The morbidities of low vision and blindness in this area decreased from 1994. The leading cause of blindness was degenerative retinopathy.