Impact of low vision on well-being in ten European countries
- Publication Type
- Journal contribution (peer reviewed)
- Authors
- Sousa-Poza, A/Mojon-Azzi, S/Mojon, D
- Year of publication
- 2008
- Published in
- International Journal of Ophthalmology (Ophthalmologica)
- DOI
- 10.1159/000126085
- Page (from - to)
- 205-212
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.