Legal blindness and employment in patients with juvenile-onset macular dystrophies or achromatopsia.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to gain information about the employment status of legally blind patients.


METHODS
Fifty-two patients with one of four juvenile-onset macular dystrophies or achromatopsia responded to questions about their employment histories and their psychological well-being. Results from the questionnaire were analyzed using z-tests for differences in proportions or t-tests for differences in means.


RESULTS
Forty-eight percent of the patients reported that they were employed and 52% that they were not employed. The subgroup that was not employed had a significantly higher proportion of women than men, whereas the employed group had approximately equivalent proportions of men and women. The employed subgroup reported that their success at work was due to social support. This subgroup had significantly higher household incomes, was significantly less likely to collect disability-income benefits, had significantly higher educational levels, had significantly higher positive affect, and had significantly lower negative affect than the subgroup that was not employed. A logistic regression analysis indicated that education was the primary predictor of employment.


CONCLUSIONS
Analysis supports the conclusion that it is beneficial for legally blind individuals to obtain an optimal level of education and receive suitable social support to facilitate their successful employment.
Szlyk
J P
JP
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, UIC Eye Center, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, West Side Veterans Administration Medical Center, 60612, USA.
Fishman
G A
GA
Aslan
R J
RJ
Grover
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology*; D003117:Color Vision Defects / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*