From the Guidelines
Vision symptoms most significantly impact the domains of daily functioning, mobility, reading and near activities, emotional well-being, and social participation in Vision-Related Quality of Life (VRQOL). The impact of vision symptoms on VRQOL is supported by moderate certainty evidence from recent studies, such as the 2023 study on vision rehabilitation preferred practice pattern 1, which found that methods for enhancing vision slightly improved VRQOL compared with usual care. Key areas affected include:
- Daily functioning: limited by the inability to perform routine tasks
- Mobility: increased risk of falls and accidents due to impaired vision
- Reading and near activities: difficulties with reading, recognizing faces, and other near tasks
- Emotional well-being: increased rates of depression, anxiety, and social isolation
- Social participation: decreased due to difficulties with communication and navigation. These effects are typically measured using validated instruments and correlate with the degree of visual impairment, as noted in the study 1.
From the Research
VRQOL Domains Affected by Vision Symptoms
The studies examined the impact of vision symptoms on vision-related quality of life (VRQOL) domains. The main VRQOL domains affected by vision symptoms are:
- Reading
- Mobility
- Emotional well-being
- Social roles and activities
Factors Influencing VRQOL Domains
Several factors influence the VRQOL domains, including:
- Age: Older individuals (≥65 years) are more likely to experience decrements in VRQOL domains due to vision impairment 2
- Visual acuity: Decreased visual acuity is associated with reduced VRQOL scores 3, 2
- Visual field loss: Hemianopia or field loss can reduce VRQoL scores, particularly in mobility and well-being domains 4
- Diagnosis: Certain diagnoses, such as non-macular diseases, may have a higher odds of increased scores in emotional VRQoL domains 4
- Sex: Men may be less likely to have increased scores in functional and emotional VRQoL domains 4
Impact of Vision Rehabilitation on VRQOL Domains
Vision rehabilitation can improve VRQOL domains, including:
- Reading: Electronic magnification and low vision aids can improve reading abilities 3
- Mobility: Vision rehabilitation can improve mobility and reduce the risk of falls 5, 4
- Emotional well-being: Vision rehabilitation can reduce depressive symptoms and improve emotional well-being 6, 5, 4
The studies suggest that VRQOL domains are significantly affected by vision symptoms, and vision rehabilitation can improve these domains. However, the impact of vision rehabilitation on VRQOL domains may vary depending on individual characteristics, such as age, sex, and diagnosis 6, 5, 4, 2