An analysis of the impact of visual impairment on activities of daily living and vision-related quality of life in a visually impaired adult population

Abstract

Background: Previous research has shown that people with visual impairment are more likely to be malnourished and have reported to have difficulty shopping for, preparing and eating food. They are also reported to have a poor quality of life. The present study aims to investigate the impact of visual impairment on activities of daily living and Vision-Related Quality Of Life (VR-QoL) in a sample of adults with visual impairment who are living in the UK. Method: A 37 question survey evaluating the nutritional status and the activities of daily living; cooking and shopping was disseminated to adults with visual impairment who were 18 years and older. VR-QoL was also assessed using the validated, Questionnaire of Vision-Related Quality Of Life Measure (VCM1). Results: Participants reported that being visually impaired made it difficult to shop for, prepare, and cook meals and this correlated significantly with level of visual impairment. The VCM1 score of ≥2.1 was reported by 74% of people with visual impairment revealing vision related quality of life is more than a little of a concern for most of the participants. The mean VCM1 score for females was 2.9±0.98 and 2.5±1.1 for males. Level of visual impairment was not found to influence the VCM1 scores. This indicates even those with visual impairment below the level required for sight impairment registration, report a reduced VR-QoL. Conclusion: It is the responsibility and duty of society to support people with visual impairment or other disabilities rather than blaming them for not 'integrating'. Among other things this can be done by incorporating norms into the marketing. These norms might help to raise and increase the awareness of suppliers to the needs of consumers with visual impairment. Furthermore, such norms may contribute to our ongoing efforts for a more inclusive and accessible environment.

Comparison of the eating behaviour and dietary consumption in older adults with and without visual impairment

“…Following a systematic review of the literature (18) , a thirty-sevenquestion, cross-sectional questionnaire was designed to evaluate the impact of VI on dietary consumption, vision-related quality of life and activities of daily living (28) . The questionnaire was piloted and validated prior to the start of the study.…”

“…The questionnaire was piloted and validated prior to the start of the study. Full details of the validation process and questionnaire design are reported elsewhere (28) .…”

“…Of the 109 VI participants recruited, only thirteen were aged under 50 years, and so although their data were included in the qualitative analysis (28) , a decision was made to restrict the dietary analysis to a subgroup of VI participants aged 50 years and over.…”

Parents’ Awareness and Perception of Children’s Refractive Error. A Qualitative Study

“…Visual impairment is a public health challenge because it can significantly impact the quality of life of children and adults alike 3,4 . Although there are fewer children affected by visual impairment, the impairment has a significant impact on their physical, emotional, social and educational development 5 .…”

Regional Trends and Associated Factors of Childhood Visual Impairment: A Case Study in Shandong Province, China

“…3 In addition, visual impaired children will have a relatively lower level of participation in sports activities (the higher the degree of VI, the lower the level of participation). 3,10 This phenomenon will not merely affect children's social interaction and exercise, but also give rise to a series of problems such as overweight and obesity. 11,12 On the other hand, the relationship between visual impairment and economy is also inseparable.…”