Low vision aids provision in an urban setting in Germany between 2014 and 2017: a regional population based study with healthcare claims data

Little is known about the utilization of low vision services (LVS) in Germany. To understand which persons and how often these services would be utilized, this study aimed to investigate low vision aids (LVAs) provision in an urban setting and to describe user characteristics and trends in their characteristics. A retrospective study based on a population-based healthcare claims database in Cologne (N = 500,000), Germany. The study population comprised individuals, who were continuously insured at four large statutory health insurers and who redeemed a prescription for visual aids or aids for blindness between January 2014 and December 2017. We examined their socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Trends in characteristics were examined with logistic and linear regression models over time. Out of 500,000 persons, 781 unique individuals ( 0.2 What is known •Despite the relevance of low vision services (LVS), there are only a few studies on LVS provision in Germany. Furthermore, healthcare claims data have not been used before to describe LVS provision in Germany. What is new •We examined low vision aids (LVAs) provision in an urban setting in Germany based on population-based healthcare claims data spanning a four-year period. •Our findings provide a starting point to examine LVS provision in Germany.