Investigation about causes of blindness and low vision among members of Blind and Visually Impaired Italian Union (UICI).

Abstract

The analyzed sample allows to get only a rough, although useful, estimate of low vision and blindness in Italy. The causes of visual impairment we found are quite in line with those provided by other international studies. The main difference from previous studies concerns pathologic myopia and retinitis pigmentosa as the most important causes of low vision and blindness among working-age people. Our epidemiological study should be mixed with economical cost-effectiveness evaluations in order to provide further impulses to efficient prevention programs.