Original Paper

Impact of Low Vision on Well-Being in 10 European Countries
S.M. Mojon-Azzi^a, A. Sousa-Poza^{a, d}, D.S. Mojon<sup>b, c

a</sup>Research Institute for Labour Economics and Labour Law, University of St. Gallen,
^bInstitute of Ophthalmology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, and
^cUniversity of Bern, Bern, Switzerland;
^dInstitute for Consumer and Household Economics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany

Address of Corresponding Author

Ophthalmologica 2008;222:205-212 (DOI: 10.1159/000126085)

  Key Words

• Visual impairment, quality of life
• Depression
• Concentration
• Well-being

  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.

Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Daniel Mojon, MD
Department of Ophthalmology
Kantonsspital
CH-9007 St. Gallen (Switzerland)
Tel. +41 71 494 28 24, Fax +41 71 494 28 82, E-Mail daniel.mojon@kssg.ch

  Article Information

Received: February 7, 2008
Accepted after revision: February 29, 2008
Published online: May 22, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 5, Number of References : 36