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Purpose-The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of residential blind rehabilitation on patients' vision targeted health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and general physical and mental function.Methods-The National Eye Institute 25-item Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ) plus appendix questions, the 12 item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), Hope Scale and Coopersmith self-esteem inventory were administered to 206 legally blind veterans prior to their entering a residential (in-patient) blind rehabilitation program and again to 185 and 176 of the original cohort at two and six months after completion of the rehabilitation program, respectively. Data on visual acuity, visual field extent, contrast sensitivity and scanning ability were also collected. The duration of the in-patient rehabilitation programs ranged from 11-109 days. Questionnaire scores were compared pre-rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation.Results-Following rehabilitation there was a significant improvement in nine of eleven NEI VFQ subscales and in a composite score at both 2-and 6-month post-rehab intervals. Mental health (SF-12) and self esteem also improved significantly although physical health ratings declined over the course of the study (approximately 10 months).Conclusions-Residential blind rehabilitation appears to improve patients' self-reported visiontargeted HRQOL, self-esteem, and mental health aspects of generic HRQOL.

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