High visual acuity (VA) correlated with positive mental health levels, according to the University of Colorado Retina Research Group.
Research on 875 patients aimed to assess the relationship between VA, different classifications of age-related macular degeneration, and mental stability.
Through the use of Snellen VA graph, the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire, and mental health subscales, the study measured that patients with late-stage AMD (bilateral geographic atrophy) scored low on the mental health subscales with a median of 58.2 and 59.3, those with poor VA of 20/200 scored lowest at 43.8, while patients with 20/20 vision scored the highest at 87.5.
According to the study published by the US National Library of Medicine: ‘There is a significant association between mental health questionnaire scores and AMD classification, as well as VA in both the better and worse-seeing eyes in patients with AMD.
‘It is important for clinicians to recognize feelings of worry/ frustration in these patients, so they can be appropriately referred, screened, and treated for mental health problems.'