title: Association of Vision Impairment and Major Eye Diseases With Mobility and Independence in a Chinese Population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mobility limitations arising from vision impairment (VI) can result in loss of independence and reduced quality of life. However, few data are available on the association between VI and mobility limitations at a population-based level, particularly in Asian populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the association of VI and major eye diseases with mobility and independence (M&I) in a Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Singapore Chinese Eye Study (February 9, 2009, to December 19, 2011) was a population-based, cross-sectional study of 3353 persons aged 40 to 80 years of Chinese ethnicity. Patients underwent visual acuity testing, and sociodemographic and medical data were collected from standardized questionnaires. Data analysis for this study was performed October 2015 to April 2016.
  
  
  METHODS
  Presenting bilateral visual acuity (categorized as none, moderate, or severe VI) and major eye diseases (cataract, uncorrected refractive error, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients answered questions on the M&I scale of the Impact of Vision Impairment questionnaire, validated using Rasch analysis. The composite M&I score (score range, -4.47 to 7.48 logits; higher scores indicate better M&I) and 11 individual item scores were the main outcomes. The association between bilateral VI and eye conditions and the composite and individual M&I item scores was assessed using linear regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 3353 patients, the mean (SD) age was 59.7 (9.9) years, and 1662 (49.6%) were male. The mean (SD) presenting visual acuity values in the better and worse eyes were 0.20 (0.21) and 0.39 (0.42) logMAR, respectively. A total of 1432 patients (42.7%) and 114 patients (3.4%) had moderate and severe bilateral VI, respectively. Mobility and independence systematically worsened as the severity of bilateral VI increased. There was a clinically meaningful reduction in M&I (20%; β, -1.44; 95% CI, -1.75 to -1.13) and all 11 M&I tasks in patients with severe bilateral VI compared with no VI. Glaucoma (13%; β, -0.94; 95% CI, -1.82 to -0.06) and cataract (6%; β, -0.43; 95% CI, -0.65 to -0.22) were independently associated with worse M&I, with patients with glaucoma particularly concerned about avoiding falling or tripping.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bilateral VI in this population was associated with substantial decrements in M&I, with glaucoma and cataract independently associated with worse M&I. Although these associations do not prove that preventing bilateral VI will improve M&I in this population, the results suggest that such interventions could be of tremendous value from this perspective.
authors.affiliation: Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore2Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia3Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Eva K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Fenwick
authors.affiliation: Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore.
authors.forename: Peng Guan
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.affiliation: Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore.
authors.forename: Ryan Eyn Kidd
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Man
authors.affiliation: Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore3Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore4Department of Ophthalmology, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore.
authors.forename: Ching-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore3Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Charumathi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sabanayagam
authors.affiliation: Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore3Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore4Department of Ophthalmology, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore.
authors.forename: Tien Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore3Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore4Department of Ophthalmology, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore.
authors.forename: Ecosse L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Lamoureux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011788:Quality of Life; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014792:Visual Acuity; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*