The impact of diabetic retinopathy on participation in daily living.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the restriction of participation in daily activities of people with diabetic retinopathy using the Impact of Vision Impairment questionnaire.


METHODS
Individuals with diabetic retinopathy and a visual acuity (VA) worse than 20/40 or 6/12 in the better eye were eligible. Participants answered demographic questions and had VA information abstracted from medical records. If VA information was unavailable, it was assessed by an orthoptist.


METHODS
All participants completed the Impact of Vision Impairment questionnaire, which was either self-administered or interviewer administered. The physical and mental health components were assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study 12-Item Short Form (SF-12) questionnaire.


RESULTS
Forty-five participants (mean age, 67.5 years) were recruited, with almost 70% (30/45) recording a VA worse than 20/60 or 6/18 in the better eye. The median duration of vision loss was 2.0 years. The highest restriction was reported for the Leisure and Work, Mobility, and Consumer and Social Interaction domains (mean, 3.0, 2.8, and 2.8, respectively), compared with the Emotional Reaction to Visual Loss and Household and Personal Care domains (mean, 2.3 and 2.1, respectively) (P<.005). The activities with the greatest restriction of participation were reading print, mobility, work, and leisure. A poorer VA in the better eye correlated independently with increased restriction of participation, as measured by the Impact of Vision Impairment questionnaire scores (partial correlations, 0.29-0.41; P< or =.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Low-vision rehabilitation services aiming to improve outdoor mobility, print reading, participation in leisure activities, and psychological health may be an effective strategy to help people with diabetic retinopathy increase their participation in daily activities.
Lamoureux
Ecosse L
EL
Centre for Eye Research Australia, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ecosse@unimelb.edu.au
Hassell
Jennifer B
JB
Keeffe
Jill E
JE
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000523:psychology