Abstract:

This paper provides contextual information in which to view the impact of visual impairment on the aged independently living population. It sets out to: describe the relationship between self-rated vision and clinically measured visual acuity; test if sight loss has an independent contribution over an above other variables known to impact on well being and social engagement; test if social support and use of community services buffer the impact of sight loss on well being and social enegagement. Self-rated eyesight was shown to impact independently on emotional well being beyond the combined impact of self rated health, functional ability and sensory impairment. The analysis also revealed that maximum social support buffered the impact of self rated eyesight on emotional well being.