[Investigations into causes of late blindness (author's transl)].

The results of investigations described here show that the sociomedical aspect of late blindness is still especially relevant in the Federal Republic of Germany. In correlation with increasing life expectancy the incidence of late blindness was found to be the arteriosclerotic form of macular degeneration. Despite the limited range of therapeutic measures available, the author recommends action to facilitate early diagnosis, in order to postpone severe impairment of vision or blindness for as long as possible.