Cent Eur J Nurs Midw 2013, 4(2):566-572

The impact of visual impairment on quality of life in patients with diabetic retinopathy

Mária Kaščáková^*, Ľudmila Majerníková, Janka Slaninková

Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Care, University of Presov in Presov

Aim: To monitor and evaluate the differences in the evaluation of monitored indicators of quality of life of patients with proliferative and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: The research sample comprised a total of 80 patients with DR. The first group consisted of 27 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and the second group of 53 patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The comparison was carried out according to the degree of DR. The data were collected using the standardized National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) at the Ophthalmic Department of J. A. Reiman Hospital in Prešov.

Results: In both compared patient groups, T-tests showed significant differences in all studied quality of life parameters: general health and vision, difficulty seeing far away and up close, the impact of the disease on achieving life goals, being limited in control over and in length of their activities, being limited to their homes, relying on the information provided by other people and needing help from others.

Conclusion: In a holistic concept, i.e. biological, psychological and social dimensions, partial or complete loss of the ability to see due to diabetes has a negative impact on the quality of life of patients with proliferative DR. Therefore, this chronic complication must be prevented by any available means.

Keywords: vision, visual impairment, diabetic retinopathy, quality of life

Published: September 30, 2013  Show citation