Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Visual impairment and health-related quality of life among elderly adults with age-related eye diseases

  • Published:
Quality of Life Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To examine the association between age-related eye disease (ARED), visual impairment, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Methods

We used data from the 2006 and 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to examine self-reported visual impairment and two HRQOL domains—physical impairment (including poor general health, physical unhealthy days, activity-limitation days, and disability) and mental distress (including mental unhealthy days, life dissatisfaction, major depression, lifetime depression, and anxiety) for people aged 65 years or older, by ARED status.

Results

People with any ARED were more likely than those without to report visual impairment as well as physical impairment and mental distress. The prevalence of visual impairment (P trend <0.001) and physical impairment (P trend <0.001) increased with increasing number of eye diseases after controlling for all covariates. There was no significant linear trend, however, in mental distress among people with one or more eye diseases.

Conclusion

ARED was found to be associated with visual impairment and poorer HRQOL. Increasing numbers of AREDs were associated with increased levels of visual impairment and physical impairment, but were not associated with levels of mental distress.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Saaddine, J. B., Narayan, K. M., & Vinicor, F. (2003). Vision loss: A public health problem? Ophthalmology, 110(2), 253–254.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Crews, J. E. (2003). The role of public health in addressing aging and sensory loss. Generations, 27, 83–90.

    Google Scholar 

  3. (2009). Prevalence and most common causes of disability among adults—United States, 2005. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 58(16), 421–426.

  4. Congdon, N., O’Colmain, B., Klaver, C. C., et al. (2004). Causes and prevalence of visual impairment among adults in the United States. Archives of Ophthalmology, 122(4), 477–485.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Munoz, B., West, S. K., Rubin, G. S., et al. (2000). Causes of blindness and visual impairment in a population of older Americans: The Salisbury Eye Evaluation Study. Archives of Ophthalmology, 118(6), 819–825.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Liu, I. Y., White, L., & LaCroix, A. Z. (1989). The association of age-related macular degeneration and lens opacities in the aged. American Journal of Public Health, 79(6), 765–769.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bockelbrink, A., Roll, S., Ruether, K., Rasch, A., Greiner, W., & Willich, S. N. (2008). Cataract surgery and the development or progression of age-related macular degeneration: A systematic review. Survey of Ophthalmology, 53(4), 359–367.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Keenan, T. D., Salmon, J. F., Yeates, D., & Goldacre, M. (2009). Trends in rates of primary angle closure glaucoma and cataract surgery in England from 1968 to 2004. Journal of Glaucoma, 18(3), 201–205.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Klein, R., Wang, Q., Klein, B. E., Moss, S. E., & Meuer, S. M. (1995). The relationship of age-related maculopathy, cataract, and glaucoma to visual acuity. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 36(1), 182–191.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Nirmalan, P. K., Tielsch, J. M., Katz, J., et al. (2005). Relationship between vision impairment and eye disease to vision-specific quality of life and function in rural India: The Aravind Comprehensive Eye Survey. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 46(7), 2308–2312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Broman, A. T., Munoz, B., Rodriguez, J., et al. (2002). The impact of visual impairment and eye disease on vision-related quality of life in a Mexican-American population: Proyecto VER. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 43(11), 3393–3398.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Ivers, R. Q., Cumming, R. G., Mitchell, P., & Attebo, K. (1998). Visual impairment and falls in older adults: The Blue Mountains Eye Study. Journal of American Geriatrics Society, 46(1), 58–64.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Ivers, R. Q., Norton, R., Cumming, R. G., Butler, M., & Campbell, A. J. (2000). Visual impairment and risk of hip fracture. American Journal of Epidemiology, 52(7), 633–639.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Hong, T., Mitchell, P., de Loryn, T., Rochtchina, E., Cugati, S., & Wang, J. J. (2009). Development and progression of diabetic retinopathy 12 months after phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Ophthalmology, 116(8), 1510–1514.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Watkinson, S., & Seewoodhary, R. (2008). Ocular complications associated with diabetes mellitus. Nursing Standard, 22(27), 51–57.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Metsemakers, J. F., Hoppener, P., Knottnerus, J. A., Kocken, R. J., & Limonard, C. B. (1992). Computerized health information in The Netherlands: A registration network of family practices. The British Journal of General Practice, 42(356), 102–106.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Wolff, J. L., Starfield, B., & Anderson, G. (2002). Prevalence, expenditures, and complications of multiple chronic conditions in the elderly. Archives of Internal Medicine, 162(20), 2269–2276.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Zahran, H. S., Kobau, R., Moriarty, D. G., Zack, M. M., Holt, J., & Donehoo, R. (2005). Health-related quality of life surveillance—United States, 1993–2002. MMWR. Surveillance Summaries, 54(4), 1–35.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Mitchell, J., & Bradley, C. (2006). Quality of life in age-related macular degeneration: A review of the literature. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 4, 97.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Campbell, V. A., Crews, J. E., Moriarty, D. G., Zack, M. M., & Blackman, D. K. (1999). Surveillance for sensory impairment, activity limitation, and health-related quality of life among older adults—United States, 1993–1997. MMWR. CDC Surveillance Summaries, 48(8), 131–156.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Datta, S., Foss, A. J., Grainge, M. J., et al. (2008). The importance of acuity, stereopsis, and contrast sensitivity for health-related quality of life in elderly women with cataracts. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 49(1), 1–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Nelson, D. E., Holtzman, D., Bolen, J., Stanwyck, C. A., & Mack, K. A. (2001). Reliability and validity of measures from the behavioral risk factor surveillance system (BRFSS). Sozial- und Praventivmedizin, 46(Suppl 1), S3–S42.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Kapp, J. M., Jackson-Thompson, J., Petroski, G. F., & Schootman, M. (2009). Reliability of health-related quality-of-life indicators in cancer survivors from a population-based sample, 2005, BRFSS. Public Health, 123(4), 321–325.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Brown, D. W., Balluz, L. S., Giles, W. H., et al. (2004). Diabetes mellitus and health-related quality of life among older adults. Findings from the behavioral risk factor surveillance system (BRFSS). Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 65(2), 105–115.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Kroenke, K., Strine, T. W., Spitzer, R. L., Williams, J. B., Berry, J. T., & Mokdad, A. H. (2009). The PHQ-8 as a measure of current depression in the general population. Journal of Affective Disorders, 114(1–3), 163–173.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Witta, M. B., & Spagnol, K. E. (2009). Using predictive marginals to produce standardized estimates. Section on Survey Research Methods (pp. 4718–4732). http://www.amstat.org/sections/SRMS/Proceedings/y2009/Files/305262.pdf.

  27. Knudtson, M. D., Klein, B. E., Klein, R., Cruickshanks, K. J., & Lee, K. E. (2005). Age-related eye disease, quality of life, and functional activity. Archives of Ophthalmology, 123(6), 807–814.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Nutheti, R., Shamanna, B. R., Nirmalan, P. K., et al. (2006). Impact of impaired vision and eye disease on quality of life in Andhra Pradesh. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 47(11), 4742–4748.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Wu, S. Y., Hennis, A., Nemesure, B., & Leske, M. C. (2008). Impact of glaucoma, lens opacities, and cataract surgery on visual functioning and related quality of life: The Barbados Eye Studies. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 49(4), 1333–1338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Chia, E. M., Wang, J. J., Rochtchina, E., Smith, W., Cumming, R. R., & Mitchell, P. (2004). Impact of bilateral visual impairment on health-related quality of life: The Blue Mountains Eye Study. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 45(1), 71–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Norris, C. M., Spertus, J. A., Jensen, L., Johnson, J., Hegadoren, K. M., & Ghali, W. A. (2008). Sex and gender discrepancies in health-related quality of life outcomes among patients with established coronary artery disease. Circulation Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, 1(2), 123–130.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Muus, I., Petzold, M., & Ringsberg, K. C. (2009). Health-related quality of life after stroke: Reliability of proxy responses. Clinical Nursing Research, 18(2), 103–118.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Esteban, J. J., Martinez, M. S., Navalon, P. G., et al. (2008). Visual impairment and quality of life: Gender differences in the elderly in Cuenca, Spain. Quality of Life Research, 17(1), 37–45.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Tay, T., Wang, J. J., Rochtchina, E., & Mitchell, P. (2005). Vision and self-rated health: Longitudinal findings from an older Australian population. Ophthalmic Epidemiology, 12(3), 179–184.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Hodek, J. M., Ruhe, A., & Greiner, W. (2009). Multimorbidity and health-related quality of life among elderly persons. Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz, 52(12), 1188–1201.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Varma, R., Wu, J., Chong, K., Azen, S. P., & Hays, R. D. (2006). Impact of severity and bilaterality of visual impairment on health-related quality of life. Ophthalmology, 113(10), 1846–1853.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Fortin, M., Lapointe, L., Hudon, C., Vanasse, A., Ntetu, A. L., & Maltais, D. (2004). Multimorbidity and quality of life in primary care: A systematic review. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 2, 51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Jiang, Y., & Hesser, J. E. (2008). Patterns of health-related quality of life and patterns associated with health risks among Rhode Island adults. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 6, 49.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Lavallee, L., Hatch, P., Michalos, A., & McKinley, T. (2007). Development of the contentment with life assessment scale (CLAS): Using daily life experiences to verify levels of self-reported life satisfaction. Social Indicators Research, 83(2), 201–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Neugarten, B. L. (1962). Satisfaction with life: A measure of mental health in old age. L’Hygiéne Mentale, 51, 65–69.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Koivumaa-Honkanen, H. T., Viinamaki, H., Honkanen, R., et al. (1996). Correlates of life satisfaction among psychiatric patients. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 94(5), 372–378.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Koivumaa-Honkanen, H., Rissanen, T., Hintikka, J, et al. (2010). Factors associated with life satisfaction in a 6-year follow-up of depressive out-patients. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. doi:10.1007/s00127-010-0225-z.

  43. Koivumaa-Honkanen, H., Kaprio, J., Honkanen, R., Viinamaki, H., & Koskenvuo, M. (2004). Life satisfaction and depression in a 15-year follow-up of healthy adults. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 39(12), 994–999.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Mangione, C. M., Lee, P. P., Pitts, J., Gutierrez, P., Berry, S., & Hays, R. D. (1998). Psychometric properties of the national eye institute visual function questionnaire (NEI-VFQ). NEI-VFQ field test investigators. Archives of Ophthalmology, 116(11), 1496–1504.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Valbuena, M., Bandeen-Roche, K., Rubin, G. S., Munoz, B., & West, S. K. (1999). Self-reported assessment of visual function in a population-based study: The SEE project. Salisbury eye evaluation. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 40(2), 280–288.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. McHorney, C. A., Ware, J. E., Jr., & Raczek, A. E. (1993). The MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36): II. Psychometric and clinical tests of validity in measuring physical and mental health constructs. Medical Care, 31(3), 247–263.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Adult and Community Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, NE, Mailstop E-65, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA

    Yan Li, Laurie D. Elam-Evans, Amy Z. Fan & Lina Balluz

  2. Division of Diabetes Translation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, NE, Mailstop K-10, Atlanta, GA, 30341-3727, USA

    John E. Crews, Xinzhi Zhang & Amanda F. Elliott

Authors
  1. Yan Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. John E. Crews
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Laurie D. Elam-Evans
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Amy Z. Fan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xinzhi Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Amanda F. Elliott
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Lina Balluz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yan Li.

Additional information

Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Li, Y., Crews, J.E., Elam-Evans, L.D. et al. Visual impairment and health-related quality of life among elderly adults with age-related eye diseases. Qual Life Res 20, 845–852 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-010-9825-z

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-010-9825-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation