Self-Reported Vision Impairment and Psychological Distress in U.S. Adults.

Abstract

Purpose: Examine the relationship between vision impairment and psychological distress in adults ≥18\xa0years.Methods: Using the 2016-2017 cross-sectional, U.S. National Health Interview Survey, we analyzed self-reported data (n\xa0=\xa057,644) on: Kessler psychological distress scores; general vision impairment (GVI), defined as difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses or contacts; and visual function impairment (VFI), measured using six visual function questions. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for mild/moderate and serious psychological distress, by GVI and VFI status, and identify predictors of psychological distress among those with GVI or VFI.Results: Among adults, 10.6% (95% CI: 10.2, 11.0) had GVI; 11.6% (CI: 11.1, 12.0) had VFI. One in four adults with GVI had psychological distress (14.9% [CI: 13.8, 16.0] reported mild/moderate and 11.2% [CI: 10.2, 12.3] reported serious). Individuals with GVI, versus those without, had higher odds of mild/moderate (aOR\xa0=\xa02.24; CI: 2.00, 2.52) and serious (aOR\xa0=\xa03.41; CI: 2.96, 3.93) psychological distress; VFI had similar findings. Among adults with GVI, odds of serious psychological distress were higher for those aged 18-39 (aOR\xa0=\xa04.46; CI: 2.89, 6.90) or 40-64 (aOR\xa0=\xa06.09; CI: 4.33, 8.57) versus ≥65\xa0years; smokers (aOR\xa0=\xa02.45; CI: 1.88, 3.18) versus non-smokers; physically inactive (aOR\xa0=\xa01.61; CI: 1.22, 2.11) versus active; and with arthritis (aOR\xa0=\xa02.18; CI: 1.66, 2.87) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (aOR\xa0=\xa01.65; CI: 1.15, 2.37) versus without.Conclusion: Adults with self-reported vision impairment had higher odds of psychological distress. These findings may inform screening interventions to address psychological distress, particularly among younger working-age adults vision impairment.