What is partial blindness?
By the 10th Revision of the WHO International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries and Causes of Death, low vision is defined as visual acuity of less than 6/18, but equal to or better than 3/60, or corresponding visual field loss to less than 20 degrees, in the better eye with best possible correction. Blindness is defined as visual acuity of less than 3/60, or corresponding visual field loss to less than 10 degrees, in the better eye with best possible correction. Diabetic retinopathy includes microaneurysms, hemorrhages, exudates, and macular edema occurring with diabetes of at least several years’ duration. Vision rarely decreases until late in the disease. Diagnosis is by funduscopy; further details are elucidated by fluorescein angiography. Treatment includes controlling diabetes and laser coagulation of threatening lesions. Please see the web pages for more details on Blindness and Diabetic retinopathy.
