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The Prevention of Blindness in the Aged *
Author(s) -
KORNZWEIG ABRAHAM L.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1972.tb01639.x
Subject(s) - medicine , diabetic retinopathy , blindness , glaucoma , eye examination , optometry , retinopathy , ophthalmology , diabetes mellitus , visual acuity , endocrinology
ABSTRACT: The main causes of blindness in the aged (cataract, macular disorders, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, vascular diseases, accidents) and the available methods of treatment and prevention are discussed. Six additional recommendations are presented for the prevention and treatment of blindness: 1) an overall high‐priority program for diabetic retinopathy; 2) inclusion of an eye examination by an ophthalmologist as part of the medical check‐up in homes for the aged and nursing homes; 3) establishment of a center for the study of diseases of the macula; 4) increased support for research on fundamental eye diseases such as cataract, glaucoma and vascular diseases; 5) screening programs to discover those aged patients who have eye diseases for which treatment is available to prevent blindness; and 6) establishment of an educational center to disseminate knowledge of eye diseases that can be prevented.