Abstract
Background: To determine the impacts of visual impairment and eye diseases on vision-related quality of life (QoL) in populations with severe visual impairment (SVI) and blindness in Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 134 respondents from, 5 different provinces, simultaneously with a validation study using data from the 2013 National Basic Health Survey. Participants aged ≥ 18 years with visual acuity of < 6/60 underwent an ocular examination and guided interview. The impact of vision impairment related to their QoL was assessed using the NEI-VFQ 25 questionnaire. The scores were then compared between participants with blindness (< 3/60) and participants with SVI (> 3/60 to < 5/60), and the causes of visual impairment. Results: Severe visual impairment and blindness were mostly found in productive aged females with lower education and income levels, and cataracts were the leading cause. Vision-related quality of life was lower in the blind group compared to the SVI group (p = 0.001). The impacts of visual impairment related mostly to distance activities (p = 0.007), social functions, and near activities (p = 0.002). NEI-VFQ 25 scores were lower in glaucoma respondents than cataract respondents. Conclusions: Results suggest that subjects with blindness had a lower total QoL score than those with SVI, in addition to the subscale scores. Furthermore, glaucoma disease had the lowest QoL score.
Recommended Citation
Asroruddin M, Artini W, Gondhowiarjo TD, Rahayu T, Lestari YD. Impacts of Impaired Vision and Eye Diseases on Vision-Related Quality of Life in Indonesia. Makara J Health Res. 2017;21.
