COMPARISON OF VISION-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AND MENTAL HEALTH IN CONGENITAL VERSUS ACQUIRED LOW VISION PATIENTS

Background: Low vision significantly impairs an individual’s functional independence and psychosocial well-being. It may present congenitally or be acquired later in life, each influencing quality of life and mental health differently. While visual rehabilitation focuses on functional support, mental health aspects often remain under-addressed. Understanding how the age of onset impacts emotional adjustment and day-to-day functioning is essential to inform more holistic and individualized rehabilitation strategies. Objective: To evaluate mental health and vision-related quality of life (VR-QOL) in visually impaired patients, and to determine the influence of age at onset by comparing congenital low vision (CLV) and acquired low vision (ALV) groups. Methods: This comparative cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at the Low Vision Clinic of Mayo Hospital, Lahore, from August to December 2021. A total of 68 patients were enrolled and equally divided into CLV (n=34) and ALV (n=34) groups based on the age of onset. Participants were assessed using a self-structured questionnaire evaluating various dimensions of VR-QOL and mental health. Demographic data, including age and gender, were collected, and group comparisons were conducted using Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square, and Fisher’s exact tests, with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. Results: Out of 68 patients, 39 (57.4%) were male and 29 (42.6%) were female. Among the CLV group, 83.3% of participants reported being motivated and 75.0% well-adjusted, whereas sadness was more prevalent in ALV (75.0%). ALV patients also reported more frequent difficulties with reading (67.7%), managing paperwork (66.7%), and seeing medication labels (81.0%) compared to the CLV group. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the two groups in mental health parameters and daily functional challenges (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with acquired low vision experience more pronounced mental health disturbances and greater difficulty with daily tasks than those with congenital low vision. Incorporating psychological assessment and considering age of onset in rehabilitation planning is critical for improving patient outcomes.