Blindness incidence in Germany. A population-based study from Württemberg-Hohenzollern.

Unlabelled: Few data on the incidence of blindness in Germany are available. We analysed causes of legal blindness for the region Württemberg-Hohenzollern (population 5.5 million) in order to help fill in this gap.

Mortality in blind subjects. A population-based study on social security files from Baden-Württemberg.

Background: Previous studies indicated that mortality is increased in blind subjects. However, no detailed analysis with respect to causes of blindness and the effect of additional diseases has been performed. The present study was undertaken to examine these questions.

Choroidal metastases and choroidal melanomas: comparison of ultrasonographic findings.

Aims: The purpose of the study was to analyse, whether the shape and the height to base ratio in B-scan ultrasonography are appropriate to differentiate choroidal melanomas from metastases.

Methods: Between 1991 and 1996 16 eyes of 16 patients with choroidal metastases from breast carcinomas and 66 eyes of 66 patients with choroidal melanomas were evaluated ultrasonographically. The diagnosis of choroidal melanoma has been confirmed histologically in all eyes.

[New blindness incidents in Württemberg-Hohenzollern].

Unlabelled: Blindness causes human suffering and high social costs. Preventive measures are necessary. Virtually all blind people are registered with the social services.

[Temporal trends in the etiology of blindness].

Introduction: Blindness prevention is a primary goal in ophthalmology. The long term success (in some respect) is reflected by the development of causes of blindness (e.g.

[Quality management, possibilities and chances in ophthalmology].

German legislation introduced in 1988 called for obligatory quality assurance (QA) practice to be initiated by health care providers. In 1992 the scope of the legislation was extended. Opportunities for introducing quality assurance practice in ophthalmology are demonstrated through examples.

[Social costs of visual handicap and blindness. Rehabilitation resources for blind patients].

Unlabelled: The number of blind and partially sighted persons in Germany is growing. Increasing social cost and human suffering are related. Measures to counteract this development (e.

[Cause of blindness in Bavaria. Evaluation of a representative sample from blindness compensation records of Upper Bavaria].

Blindness certificates from the region of Oberbayern were studied to obtain data for the prevalence, incidence and the causes of blindness in Bavaria. This investigation reveals increasing rates for the prevalence and incidence of blindness. Most (60% of the prevalence and 70-80% of the incidence) of the blind are older than sixty years of age.