Health-related quality of life and related factors among older adults with visual impairments

Aim was to explore the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and related factors among older adults with visual impairment (VI). A total of 39 independently living subjects aged ⩾65 years (83 ± 6.5), referred to the Low Vision Center of the Oulu University Hospital, Finland during one year participated in the study. The participants had low vision or blindness as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). The 15D, a generic HRQoL instrument, was used to assess the HRQoL, and an ophthalmic examination was performed to assess vision. A population-based control group (n = 1074) was available for comparison. The mean 15D index scores for the participants and the control group were 0.768 (SD = 0.089) and 0.827 (SD = 0.044), respectively, (p