Impact of Low Vision on Well-Being in 10 European Countries

Abstract

Background: Because of the growing life expectancy in developed countries and the exponential increase in vision loss with increasing age, a growing number of elderly persons will eventually suffer from visual impairment and blindness. This paper describes the association between self-reported vision and well-being in individuals aged 50 years and older and their families. Methods: Using binary logistic regressions on data from the 2004 Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), we analysed the association between self-reported corrected vision in general, corrected distance vision and corrected reading vision on 11 variables capturing emotional well-being, future hopes and perspectives, and concentration on daily activities. Results: For 22,486 individuals from 10 European countries, aged 64.23 ± 10.52 years, lower vision was associated with a highly significant negative impact on all measured aspects of well-being. Conclusions: These data from a large population base in Europe provide evidence that persons with low vision have a higher probability of concentration problems during reading and entertainment; losing interest and enjoyment in their activities; feeling fatigued, irritable, sad, and tearful; having less hope for the future; and wishing for death. Effective measures of early detection, prevention, rehabilitation, education and research, as well as a holistic view of a patient, could help counter these problems, thereby improving mental and physical health and reducing the economic impact of low vision.

Impact of Low Vision on Employment

“…Several previous articles showed vision loss to be associated with a lower QOL, problems in performing daily activities such as driving and preparing meals, decreased mental and physical health, an increased risk of suicide as well as of death, and in some cases with a loss of independence [36]. Our results additionally demonstrate a strong impact of self-reported visual impairment on individual employment, and therefore on worker productivity and well-being.…”

Increased Mortality Risk among the Visually Impaired: The Roles of Mental Well-Being and Preventive Care Practices

“…Although there is no established methodology of assessing mental well-being, the five quantitative mental well-being indicators used in this study are consistent with those of Monjon-Azzi and associates 24 and measure overall psychological well-being. Rather than studying each indicator individually, we used a latent variable in the SEM setting to create a more comprehensive composite measure of mental well-being.…”

“…Using 11 variables to capture emotional well-being from the population-based 2004 SHARE, MonjonAzzi and associates found a significant relationship between lower vision and well-being. 24 In a systematic review of 29 quantitative studies between 2001 and 2008, Nyman and coworkers 42 noted working-age adults with VI were significantly more likely to report lower levels of mental health, social functioning, and quality of life. With respect to wellbeing and mortality, Chida and Steptoe 23 performed metaanalysis of 35 studies in initial healthy populations and 35 studies of disease populations and documented positive psychological well-being has a favorable effect on survival in both healthy and diseased populations.…”

“…Lower mental well-being is associated with increased risk of mortality. 23 Mojon-Azzi and colleagues 24 analyzed mental well-being indicators in persons aged 50 years and older using data from the 2004 Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and found self-reported low vision was associated with lower psychological well-being. Although related to depression, overall psychological well-being is a broader indicator of self-rated or perceived psychosocial mental health.…”

The comparison effects of eight weeks spark and frenkel exercises on static and dynamic balance in the blinds

“…Blindness and visual impairment are two important health issues, with economic and social implications for developed and developing countries (6). Studies have shown that visual impairment affects a person's quality of life and reduce social activities and independence (7,8).…”