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Perceived Stress and Visual Function in Macular Degeneration Patients

Movsisyan, Tatevik

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Vision Science.
Purpose: Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of permanent blindness in developed countries.1-3 Higher levels of depression and disability and lower quality of life has been measured in this population.4-7 The purpose of this study was to measure perceived stress and it relationship to visual function in patients with AMD using the Perceived Stress Scale. Methods: Patients with AMD were enrolled during visits to a retinal specialist for evaluation of the need for treatment with intraocular anti-VEGF injection. Visual acuity was assessed using a backlit ETDRS chart and by-letter scoring. Four surveys were then administered to the patient. They included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Impact of Vision Impairment survey (IVI), and the ENRICHD Social Support Inventory (ESSI), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D).Participants completed a large-print paper version of the surveys when possible, and the survey was read aloud to patients who were unable to complete it for visual reasons. Rasch analysis of PSS responses was performed using Winsteps with the Andrich rating scale model. Item fit to the Rasch model was assessed using infit iii mean square statistics. Response category functioning was assessed using category probability curves, and survey targeting for the study population was assessed by comparing Rasch item measures with person measures for all participants. Results: We had a total of 79 participants in this particular part of the study. The mean age was 81.19 with 48.1% bring female and 51.9% male. Rasch analysis showed that the PSS was valid to use in this population and measured the desired construct, stress. During our analysis we found that visual acuity in the better and worse eye were correlated with age. Age was also positively correlated with IVI results. Visual acuity in the better eye was correlated to visual acuity in the worse eye. PSS was not correlated with visual acuity in the worse or better eye. IVI results were correlated with PSS results. Conclusions: The PSS is valid for use in patients with AMD. There is an important relationship between the PSS and IVI but not between PSS and visual acuity. Visual acuity is the gold standard for measuring treatment outcomes with AMD, but perhaps self-reported visual function should also be considered when talking about treatment outcomes. Furthermore, since stress is present in these patients and also an inherent part of the anti-VEGF injections, treatment for stress should be considered. Low vision rehabilitation may be one such treatment that addresses quality of life.
Bradley Dougherty, O.D., PhD (Advisor)
83 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Movsisyan, T. (2016). Perceived Stress and Visual Function in Macular Degeneration Patients [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1461087205

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Movsisyan, Tatevik. Perceived Stress and Visual Function in Macular Degeneration Patients. 2016. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1461087205.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Movsisyan, Tatevik. "Perceived Stress and Visual Function in Macular Degeneration Patients." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1461087205

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)