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. 2019 Aug 28:2019:3586370.
doi: 10.1155/2019/3586370. eCollection 2019.

The Needs for Visual Improvement of Patients Presented at Low-Vision Center in Wenzhou, China

Xiaoman Li  1 , Guofu Chen  1   2 , Ruzhi Deng  1 , Na Lin  1 , Lingzhi Ni  1 , Longfei Jiang  1 , Haishuang Lin  1 , Frank Thorn  1   3 , Jie Chen  1
Affiliations

The Needs for Visual Improvement of Patients Presented at Low-Vision Center in Wenzhou, China

Xiaoman Li et al. J Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Purpose: To characterize the needs for visual improvement of new-visit patients with low vision.

Methods: This cross-sectional study collected detailed information of patients presented at low-vision center of the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between January 2015 and January 2017. A questionnaire interview, including demographic information and needs for visual improvement, was conducted before ophthalmology examinations.

Results: The main need for visual improvement was engagement in hobbies (68.9%), followed by reading (20.9%), engaging in occupation (20.1%), and watching TV or movies (17.1%). Less than 10% of patients mentioned the demand of using public transportation (5.8%), doing housework (3.7%), writing (1.9%), walking on irregular surfaces (1.5%), driving (1.1%), and others (2.4%). Women were significantly associated with a concern for performing hobbies (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.0-2.0) but associated with lower odds of reading (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.3-0.7). Older subjects were more willing to choose hobbies (OR 1.35 (per 10-year increase), 95% CI 1.3-1.4), reading (OR 1.11 (per 10-year increase), 95% CI 1.0-1.2), watching TV or movies (OR 1.4 (per 10-year increase), 95% CI 1.3-1.6), and housework (OR 1.21 (per 10-year increase), 95% CI 1.0-1.5) than younger individuals. In comparison with younger participants, older individuals were less likely to choose occupation (OR 0.53 (per 10-year increase), 95% CI 0.5-0.6). No significant association was found between visual acuity and needs for visual improvement.

Conclusion: Hobbies, reading, engaging in occupation, and watching TV were the most common needs for visual rehabilitation in patients with visual impairment. Gender and age showed a modest influence on the choice of different needs.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Frequency of needs for visual improvement. Multiple choices were permitted, and therefore, the total category may exceed 100%.
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