Experts' perspectives on the impact of visual impairment and comorbid mental disorders on functioning in essential life domains.

Background: Visual impairment (VI) with comorbid mental disorders (MDs) are expected to have a major impact on people's daily functioning, for which tailored support is needed. However, this has been barely investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to (1) determine the impact of VI and comorbid MDs on functioning in essential life domains, (2) gain insight into best-practices that are currently used to support this target group, and (3) determine strategies to optimize care in the future.

Interrater reliability and agreement between children with visual impairment and their parents on participation and quality of life.

Purpose: To investigate interrater reliability and agreement between children with visual impairment (VI) and their parents on participation and quality of life and factors associated with disagreement.

Methods: Children 7-17 years and their parents completed the PAI-CY 7-12 (n = 180) and 13-17 (n = 65), the KIDSCREEN-27 (n = 250) and the CASP (n = 70). Mean scores of children and parents were compared, with effect sizes for the differences.

Psychometric properties of the Dutch version Adult Strabismus-20 Questionnaire (AS-20).

Purpose: Strabismus often has an impact on a patient's quality of life (QoL). The Adult Strabismus-20 questionnaire (AS-20) is an instrument developed to assess the strabismus-specific QoL. The aim was to investigate several psychometric properties of the Dutch-AS-20 among adult patients with strabismus.

Anxiety and depression in patients who receive anti-VEGF treatment and the usability and feasibility of e-mental health support: the E-PsEYE pilot study.

Purpose: E-PsEYE is an internet-based, guided self-help course, following the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy, to reduce anxiety and depression in patients with retinal exudative diseases who receive anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and related factors of anxiety and depression in this population and evaluate the usability and feasibility of E-PsEYE.

Methods: Symptoms of anxiety and depression and related factors were determined in 90 patients (mean age 77 years, 58% female), based on multiple logistic regression analysis.

The development of posttraumatic stress disorder in individuals with visual impairment: a systematic search and review.

Purpose: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health problem with a negative impact on quality of life. Little is known about the relationship between PTSD and visual impairment. According to diagnostic criteria for PTSD, vision loss in itself is generally not considered as a traumatic event.

Low vision rehabilitation for better quality of life in visually impaired adults.

Background: Low vision rehabilitation aims to optimise the use of residual vision after severe vision loss, but also aims to teach skills in order to improve visual functioning in daily life. Other aims include helping people to adapt to permanent vision loss and improving psychosocial functioning. These skills promote independence and active participation in society.

Visual and personal characteristics are associated with reading performance in normally sighted adults.

Background: Visual acuity (VA) only slightly explains variability in reading performance, whereas other visual and non-visual parameters have been reported to influence reading performance; however, in ophthalmologic and optometric clinical practice and research, where standardised reading tests are used, many of these parameters are often neglected. The purpose of this study was to give insight into how various visual and non-visual parameters are associated with reading performance in normally sighted subjects. In addition, reading speed over time was investigated to observe the influence of prolonged reading on standardised test performance.

Diabetes and diabetic retinopathy in people aged 50 years and older in the Republic of Suriname.

Background/aims: Population-based surveys on diabetes and diabetic retinopathy (DR) are necessary to increase awareness and develop screening and therapeutic programmes. The aim was to estimate the prevalence of DR in older adults of different ethnic backgrounds in Suriname.

Methods: Fifty clusters of 60 people aged ≥50 years were randomly selected with a probability proportional to the size of the population unit.