[Ocular diseases in public health]

The renewed sensibility towards the quality of life of disability has moved the authors to undertake a review to assess the low vision-blindness phenomenon as a public health problem. Particular attention has been paid to the aetiology and to the geographic distribution worldwide and in Italy. The prevention aspects of the main ocular diseases widespread in the industrialized countries, including the interventions focused on the patient and on the rehabilitation, have been analysed.