title: Impact of refractive error on quality of life: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study qualitatively explores the impact of refractive error on adults, particularly after correction.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The study aimed to explore the impact of refractive error on quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional; in-depth telephone and face-to-face semistructured interviews; qualitative study with inductive and deductive processes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight adults with refractive error (including presbyopia) were recruited from the Flinders Vision, the Ashford Advanced Eye Care and among Flinders University staff and students, in South Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded and analysed using thematic analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Themes and categories RESULTS: The median age of the participants was 49 years (min: 22 years; max: 76 years). Most of them were female: (29; 59%). Most of them (36; 75.0%) had myopia followed by hyperopia (12; 25.0%). Twenty-two (45.8%) participants had astigmatism. Similarly, 23 (47.9%) of them were presbyopes. Most of the participants (39; 81.3%) wore glasses; 17 (35.4%) used contact lenses, and 17 (35.4%) had undergone refractive surgery. A total of 2367 comments were coded. Thematic analysis resulted into six themes that informed about quality of life issues in people with refractive error. Concerns about cosmetic appearance, personal health and safety, difficulties in day-to-day activities and inconveniences rendered in daily life were identified as the most important themes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study enrich the understanding on the issues important in people with refractive error. The quality of life issues identified will be used to develop a refractive error-specific item bank.
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Centre for Clinical Eye Research, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Himal
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6745-6411
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kandel
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Centre for Clinical Eye Research, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Jyoti
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Khadka
authors.affiliation: University of Adelaide/South Australian Institute of Ophthalmology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goggin
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Centre for Clinical Eye Research, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pesudovs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003261:Contact Lenses; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D054140:Refractive Surgical Procedures; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: hyperopia; myopia; presbyopia; qualitative study; quality of life; refractive error; thematic analysis