This study shows a significant need for increasing awareness and mental health support among AMD patients. Photo: NEI. Click image to enlarge.

People with visual impairments are at risk of emotional distress as a result. In research presented at ARVO 2024 last week, researchers investigated the prevalence of mental health conditions and associations in people with macular disease and found that depressive symptoms are four times more prevalent in people with macular disease when vision is impaired; it also noted that many of these individuals were not seeking mental health care.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,969 people with macular disease in Australia. A majority were female (68%) and most were 75 years or older (75%). The survey included four standard mental health scales: Geriatric Depression Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, UCLA-Loneliness Scale and the Lubben Social Network Scale-6. Associations between depressive symptoms and anxiety and predictor variables of sociodemographic factors, self-reported vision, diagnosis of neovascular AMD, systemic and ocular co-morbidities, social isolation, loneliness, concerns about falling, worry about scams and sleep quality were explored in multivariable logistic regression analyses.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) was the most common eye condition (67%) in this sample, and 26% reported neovascular AMD in at least one eye. The study showed that 16% had depressive symptoms, 21% had anxiety symptoms, 21% were lonely and 22% socially isolated. Of those screening positive for depression and moderate/severe anxiety, 56% and 50% were not receiving any mental health support. Fair/worse self-rated vision, social isolation, concerns about falling, poor sleep quality and anxiety were associated with increased odds of depressive symptoms. Age <75 years, loneliness, concerns about falling, poor sleep quality and depression were associated with increased odds of anxiety symptoms.

“Depressive symptoms are four times more prevalent in people with macular disease when vision is impaired,” the researchers explained in their abstract. “Symptoms of depression and anxiety often co-occur. Many experiencing these symptoms were not receiving mental health care, indicating the need for increasing awareness and mental health support.”

Original abstract content ©2024 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.