Abstract: In order to find out the prevalence,the causes as well as the distributions of blindness and low vision in leprosy,an epidemiological survey of blindnes and low vision caused by leprosy among 1045 cases of leprosy was carried out in Taixing City,Jiangsu.The result showed that the prevalence of bilateral blindness was 7.76%,unilateral blindnes 4.4%;bilateral low vision of various degrees 9.28%,unilateral low vision 5.84%.The prevalence of eye complications in diferent groups of patients was quite diferent,it was higher in females than in males,multibacilary patients higher than paucibacilary patients,in-patients higher than out-patients.Corneal disease was the commonest cause of blindness in this group,to the second was iritic disease and cataract.The main cause of low vision was cataract,then corneal and iritic diseases.Treata bleblindnes accounted for 62.7% and treatable low vision 88.61% of the patients studied.56.62% of cases with eye complications expressed their willingness to be treated,therefore,prevention and treatment of low vision and blindnes are very hard.

Key words: Leprosy, Blindness, Vision disorders