A new study published in the Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology found that a 21.3% patients with a macular degeneration demonstrated severe symptoms of depression. The study also found that patients who lived with others had a lower prevalence of depression, which suggests the need to help ensure that patients with macular degeneration have adequate support and live in an environment that mitigates the risk of depression.
This is vision with macular degeneration:
It is not surprising that severe depression is common among patients with macular degeneration, as the disease impairs vision to an extent that it reduces a person's quality of life.
This is normal vision:
This is normal vision:
At our Vancouver eye clinic, we find that maximizing a patient's remaining vision can improve quality of life and reduce depression. Visit www.lowvisionvancouver.com for more information on how low vision devices can help the visually impaired.
This is not the first study to link vision and mental health. See the following related articles:
Sharp Vision Sharp Mind
Feb 09, 2012
Depressed? Anxious? Maybe your eyes are too dry
Apr 20, 2012
This is not the first study to link vision and mental health. See the following related articles:
Sharp Vision Sharp Mind
Feb 09, 2012
Depressed? Anxious? Maybe your eyes are too dry
Apr 20, 2012
Citation
Can J Ophthalmol 2013 Aug 01;48(4)269-273, J Jivraj, I Jivraj, M Tennant, C Rudnisky
Can J Ophthalmol 2013 Aug 01;48(4)269-273, J Jivraj, I Jivraj, M Tennant, C Rudnisky
