Opthalmic disease affects a large percentage of the population worldwide, especially since a number of conditions are very frequent with the advent of time as part of normal aging. Vision loss in is associated with increased risk of social isolation, falls and injuries, depression and other psychological problems. It can amplify the adverse effects of other chronic illnesses, increasing the risk for all-cause and injury-related mortality. Moreover, the economic and social costs of vision impairment and eye disease to patients,the health care system and society are considerable and often neglected.
Vision-related quality of life is defined by the World Health Organization as a “complex trait that encompasses vision functioning, symptoms, emotional wellbeing, social relationships, concerns, and convenience as they are affected by vision”. While a large number of studies have attemtpted to present the benefit to the patients' vision-related quality of life with adequate treatment of the underlying disease, the notion largely persists that vision is but a small component of general health and quality of life.
This special issue will address the impact of ophthalmic disease on patients' quality of life and its improvement following treatment, including but not limited to presentation of clinical data, effectiveness and validation of patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) and general positive impact on health. The aim is to draw more attention to the importance of treating ophthalmic disease not only to the extent that is appreciable with the improvement in vision functioning but also to the general benefit that is incurred on the patients' lives.
Opthalmic disease affects a large percentage of the population worldwide, especially since a number of conditions are very frequent with the advent of time as part of normal aging. Vision loss in is associated with increased risk of social isolation, falls and injuries, depression and other psychological problems. It can amplify the adverse effects of other chronic illnesses, increasing the risk for all-cause and injury-related mortality. Moreover, the economic and social costs of vision impairment and eye disease to patients,the health care system and society are considerable and often neglected.
Vision-related quality of life is defined by the World Health Organization as a “complex trait that encompasses vision functioning, symptoms, emotional wellbeing, social relationships, concerns, and convenience as they are affected by vision”. While a large number of studies have attemtpted to present the benefit to the patients' vision-related quality of life with adequate treatment of the underlying disease, the notion largely persists that vision is but a small component of general health and quality of life.
This special issue will address the impact of ophthalmic disease on patients' quality of life and its improvement following treatment, including but not limited to presentation of clinical data, effectiveness and validation of patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) and general positive impact on health. The aim is to draw more attention to the importance of treating ophthalmic disease not only to the extent that is appreciable with the improvement in vision functioning but also to the general benefit that is incurred on the patients' lives.
