Impact of near vision and contrast sensitivity on quality of life.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The impact of near vision and contrast sensitivity on the quality of life of a patient with a visual impairment.
IRAS ID
137010
Contact name
Patrick Keating
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
Research summary
The research project is going to assess the effect of near vision and contrast sensitivity (where objects and their background are of varying contrast) on the quality of life of patients with a visual impairment.
Visual impairments are likely to become more common in the coming years with an increasingly ageing population.
Visual impairments can impact on a patients quality of life. This effect can be measured using a Low Vision Quality of Life (LVQoL) questionnaire.
Near vision measurement is an important measure of visual function, particularly in ARMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration) where reading small print and reading fluently is often affected. Contrast sensitivity is highly important in low vision assessments and reduced contrast sensitivity can cause difficulties performing activities of daily living and mobility.
A LVQoL questionnaire in conjunction with near vision and contrast sensitivity measurement describes the overall visual status of a patient and is useful in informing health care professionals about the impact of a visual impairment on quality of life. It is important in planning and providing low vision services. Patient-reported outcome measures can be used to assess the effectiveness of a service or treatment method and ensures management of visually impaired patients is effective. Service evaluation is becoming increasingly important to prove health services are efficient and patient experience is one method of achieving this.
The project is a prospective, cross-sectional design and a comparative survey.
Patients who meet the inclusion criteria and attend the Low Vision follow-up clinic at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust will be selected, providing informed consent is gained. Near vision with both eyes, with and without magnifiers and contrast sensitivity with both eyes will be measured and patients will be asked the LVQoL questionnaire.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/NW/0747
Date of REC Opinion
23 Jan 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion