title: Influence of visual acuity on anxiety, panic and depression disorders among young and middle age adults in the United States.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous research, albeit limited, has demonstrated an association of visual acuity with depression and anxiety. However, these studies are limited in that they have focused on older adults, used a convenient sample, and/or used a subjective assessment of visual function. As a result, the purpose of this study was to examine the association of objectively-measured visual acuity with depression and anxiety (and panic disorder) among a national sample of young- and middle-age U.S. adults (20-39 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from the 2003-2004 NHANES (n=602), the presence of anxiety, depression, and panic disorders was assessed from a diagnostic interview. Visual acuity was assessed from a vision exam using the Nidek Auto Lensmeter Model (LM-990A) and expressed as LogMAR units.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for age, gender, race-ethnicity, body mass index, mean arterial pressure, cotinine, diabetes, and physical activity, visual acuity was not associated with panic disorder (p=0.71) or depression disorder (p=0.20), but for every 0.1 LogMAR unit change in vision, participants had a 14% (OR=1.14; p=0.04) higher odds of having an anxiety disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main limitation of this study was the cross-sectional design.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Young- and middle-age U.S. adults with worse visual function are at increased odds of having an anxiety disorder. Strategies to prevent and treat anxiety among those with worse visual function are needed.
authors.affiliation: Bellarmine University, Donna & Allan Lansing School of Nursing & Health Sciences, Louisville, KY 40205, USA. Electronic address: ploprinzi@bellarmine.edu.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Loprinzi
authors.affiliation: Bellarmine University, Donna & Allan Lansing School of Nursing & Health Sciences, Louisville, KY 40205, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Codey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010200:Panic; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014792:Visual Acuity
keywords: Epidemiology; Psychological distress; Vision