The association between two quality of life measures for first time low vision device users

Abstract

Many individuals with impaired vision experience a decreased quality of life. Quality of life is defined as "the degree to which an individual enjoys the important possibilities of their life. " Vision rehabilitation outcomes primarily focus on the functional impacts of interventions, with less attention being paid to any associated psychosocial impacts. This study examines the relationship between measures of visual function status and psychosocial status in individuals acquiring low vision assistive devices for the first time. One hundred and twenty subjects were evaluated after purchasing their first low vision device from a University-based low vision clinic. The measures used were the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ 25) and the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scales (PIADS). The NEI-VFQ 25 measures the status of visual function, while PIADS is a device impact measure, which explores the psychosocial impact of devices on three domains: competence, adaptability, and self-esteem. This study determines the strength of association between these two measures at initial and follow-up administrations, and between each subsequent measure as a result of the time interval between administrations, in addition to assessing whether or not a change in stability for the measures occurred over time. Modest strengths of associations were anticipated and the short time interval was not expected to be a factor in change in stability of the measures. The expectation was that subjective reports of functional changes should have a moderate correlation with psychosocial impact.