Maja, Belevska and Sotir, Ropi and Elena, Krstevska-Kelepurovska (2026) Health-Related Quality of Life and Self Rated Health in Adults with Low Vision: An EQ-5D and EQ-VAS Assessment. Medical Science and Discovery, 13 (6). pp. 103-109. ISSN 2148-6832
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Abstract
Abstract
Objective: Low vision affects mobility, autonomy, social participation and work
capacity, yet generic health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data in adults with low
vision remain limited in South-Eastern Europe. This study assessed HRQoL and self
rated health in adults with low vision and compared ophthalmic subgroups with a
control group.
Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study included 600 adults from urban and
rural areas of North Macedonia: 450 adults with low vision and 150 controls with
preserved vision. Cases comprised 150 participants with glaucoma, 150 with diabetic
retinopathy and 150 with refractive anomalies. Participants were distributed across
labour, clerical or administrative, agricultural and other occupations. HRQoL was
assessed with the Serbian-language EQ-5D-3L and self-rated health with EQ-VAS.
Results: Moderate problems predominated in mobility (288/450, 64.0%), self-care
(301/450, 66.9%), usual activities (293/450, 65.1%) and anxiety/depression (245/450,
54.4%) among low-vision cases. Most low-vision participants reported no
pain/discomfort (359/450, 79.8%), although glaucoma showed more severe
pain/discomfort than diabetic retinopathy (χ²=11.101, p=0.0041) and refractive
anomalies (χ²=11.401, p=0.0031). Controls had better EQ-5D profiles than all low
vision groups across all five domains and in aggregate graded EQ-5D levels. Between
diagnostic groups, no meaningful differences were observed for mobility, self-care,
usual activities, anxiety/depression or aggregate EQ-5D levels. Derived EQ-VAS
mean±SD values were 62.1±13.9 in glaucoma, 53.5±14.8 in diabetic retinopathy,
60.1±14.2 in refractive anomalies, 58.2±15.2 in all low-vision cases and 71.3±12.9 in
controls. EQ-VAS distributions differed between glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy
and between diabetic retinopathy and refractive anomalies, but not between glaucoma
and refractive anomalies.
Conclusion: Adults with low vision had substantially poorer HRQoL and worse
self-rated health than controls, with the greatest burden in mobility, self-care, usual
activities and emotional wellbeing. These findings support integrated ophthalmic,
rehabilitative, psychosocial and workplace-oriented interventions.
Keywords: low vision; visual impairment; health-related quality of life; EQ-5D;
EQ-VAS; occupational health; glaucoma; diabetic retinopathy; refractive anomalies
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | Scientific Fields (Frascati) > Medical and Health Sciences > Health sciences |
| Divisions: | Higher Medical School |
| Depositing User: | MSc Daniela Petkovska |
| Date Deposited: | 07 Oct 2026 10:53 |
| Last Modified: | 07 Oct 2026 10:53 |
| URI: | https://eprints.uklo.edu.mk/id/eprint/11881 |
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