title: Impact of unilateral and bilateral vision loss on quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether unilateral vision loss reduced any aspects of quality of life in comparison with normal vision and to compare its impact with that of bilateral vision loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used cluster stratified random sample of 3271 urban participants recruited between 1992 and 1994 for the Melbourne Visual Impairment Project. All predictors and outcomes were from the 5 year follow up examinations conducted in 1997-9.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 2530 participants who attended the follow up survey and had measurement of presenting visual acuity. Both unilateral and bilateral vision loss were significantly associated with increased odds of having problems in visual functions including reading the telephone book, newspaper, watching television, and seeing faces. Non-correctable by refraction unilateral vision loss increased the odds of falling when away from home (OR = 2.86, 95% CI 1.16 to 7.08), getting help with chores (OR = 3.09, 95% CI 1.40 to 6.83), and becoming dependent (getting help with meals and chores) (OR = 7.50, 95% CI 1.97 to 28.6). Non-correctable bilateral visual loss was associated with many activities of daily living except falling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-correctable unilateral vision loss was associated with issues of safety and independent living while non-correctable bilateral vision loss was associated with nursing home placement, emotional wellbeing, use of community services, and activities of daily living. Correctable or treatable vision loss should be detected and attended to.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Vicoria 3002, Australia. hienv@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: H T V
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Vu
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Keeffe
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: McCarty
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001766:Blindness / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011788:Quality of Life; D012449:Safety
references.citation: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2002 Apr;43(4):927-35
references.pmid: 11923230
references.citation: Br J Ophthalmol. 2001 Mar;85(3):322-6
references.pmid: 11222339
references.citation: Aust N Z J Public Health. 2002 Apr;26(2):116-9
references.pmid: 12054328
references.citation: J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003 Mar;51(3):356-63
references.pmid: 12588579
references.citation: Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2003 Feb;10(1):3-13
references.pmid: 12607154
references.citation: Br J Ophthalmol. 2003 Apr;87(4):392-5
references.pmid: 12642296
references.citation: Ophthalmology. 2003 Apr;110(4):644-50
references.pmid: 12689880
references.citation: Am J Ophthalmol. 2004 Feb;137(2):265-70
references.pmid: 14962415
references.citation: Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 1994 Dec;1(3):139-48
references.pmid: 8790620
references.citation: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1997 Jan;38(1):72-82
references.pmid: 9008632
references.citation: J Am Geriatr Soc. 1998 May;46(5):617-9
references.pmid: 9588377
references.citation: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1999 Jan;40(1):12-9
references.pmid: 9888421
references.citation: Am J Ophthalmol. 2001 May;131(5):584-9
references.pmid: 11336932
references.citation: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2000 Jan;41(1):49-54
references.pmid: 10634600
references.citation: Arch Ophthalmol. 2002 Jun;120(6):774-80
references.pmid: 12049583