The impact of refractive error correction on health-related quality of life in nursing home residents in Armenia

This study assessed the impact of refractive error (RE) correction on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among nursing home residents. This quasi-experimental study with comparison group enrolled 249 participants for baseline and follow-up assessments in August 2021 and January 2022, respectively. Ophthalmic examination was conducted and visual acuity was assessed at baseline. Spectacles were distributed at three months before the follow-up. The interviewer-administered questionnaire assessed participants’ socio-demographics and HRQoL using a 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Patient compliance with wearing spectacles was measured. The mean age of participants was 72.6. About 42.0% had mild to severe visual impairment (VI), while 5.0% were blind. At the follow-up, the normal vision improved from 52.8% to 64.9%, while mild to severe VI decreased from 42.3% to 30.3%. In the RE correction group, 83.3% of visually impaired people improved their vision to normal after receiving spectacles and 70.8% had corrected presbyopia. At the follow-up, those who had corrected their vision reported significantly better physical (PHC) and mental health component (MHC) scores of SF-36, particularly in physical functioning, emotional well-being, and pain. Those who had not corrected their vision reported no significant improvement in both PHC and MHC. There were no significant differences in baseline to follow-up mean change scores for PHC and MHC between those who corrected their vision and those who had not. Access to comprehensive eye care services including regular eye screenings, provision of spectacles, and interventions facilitating spectacle-wearing compliance might improve ophthalmic health and HRQoL in this population. Visual impairment and blindness in nursing home residents were higher compared to proportions found in a nationwide survey in Armenia and globally.Participants who had corrected their vision reported significantly better physical and mental health at follow-up compared to baseline.Regular eye screenings, provision of spectacles, and interventions facilitating spectacle-wearing compliance might improve ophthalmic health and quality of life in nursing home residents. Visual impairment and blindness in nursing home residents were higher compared to proportions found in a nationwide survey in Armenia and globally. Participants who had corrected their vision reported significantly better physical and mental health at follow-up compared to baseline. Regular eye screenings, provision of spectacles, and interventions facilitating spectacle-wearing compliance might improve ophthalmic health and quality of life in nursing home residents.

本研究评估了屈光不正（refractive error, RE）矫正对养老院居民健康相关生活质量（health-related quality of life, HRQoL）的影响。本项设置对照的类实验研究于2021年8月与2022年1月分别纳入249名参与者完成基线与随访评估。研究在基线阶段开展了眼科检查与视力评估，并于随访前3个月为参与者配发眼镜。采用访谈式问卷收集参与者的社会人口学特征，并通过36条目简明健康调查量表（36-item Short-Form Health Survey, SF-36）评估其健康相关生活质量，同时测量了参与者佩戴眼镜的依从性。参与者的平均年龄为72.6岁。约42.0%的参与者存在轻度至重度视力损害（visual impairment, VI），5.0%为盲人群体。随访阶段，视力正常者占比从52.8%提升至64.9%，轻度至重度视力损害者占比从42.3%降至30.3%。在屈光不正矫正组中，83.3%的视力损害人群在佩戴眼镜后视力恢复至正常水平，70.8%的老视（presbyopia）患者得到了矫正。随访结果显示，接受视力矫正的参与者在SF-36量表的躯体健康组分（physical health component, PHC）与心理健康组分（mental health component, MHC）得分上均显著更优，尤其在躯体功能、情绪健康与疼痛维度表现突出；未接受视力矫正的参与者则未出现躯体与心理健康组分得分的显著提升。在基线至随访的平均变化得分方面，视力矫正组与未矫正组的躯体健康组分、心理健康组分均无显著组间差异。提供全面的眼科医疗服务——包括定期眼科筛查、眼镜配发以及提升眼镜佩戴依从性的干预措施——或可改善该群体的眼科健康状况与健康相关生活质量。养老院居民的视力损害与失明比例高于亚美尼亚全国性调查及全球相关报道的比例。接受视力矫正的参与者在随访阶段的躯体与心理健康状况相较于基线水平显著改善。定期眼科筛查、眼镜配发以及提升眼镜佩戴依从性的干预措施，或可改善养老院居民的眼科健康状况与生活质量。养老院居民的视力损害与失明比例高于亚美尼亚全国性调查及全球相关报道的比例。接受视力矫正的参与者在随访阶段的躯体与心理健康状况相较于基线水平显著改善。定期眼科筛查、眼镜配发以及提升眼镜佩戴依从性的干预措施，或可改善养老院居民的眼科健康状况与生活质量。