Visual, musculoskeletal and balance symptoms in individuals with visual impairment

Abstract

Background

Visual impairment is globally among the most prevalent disabilities. Research concerning the health consequences of visual deficits is challenged by confounding effects of age, because visual impairment becomes more prevalent with age. This study investigates the influence of visual deficits on visual, musculoskeletal and balance symptoms in adults with and without visual impairment, while controlling for age effects.

Methods

Thirty‐nine patients with visual impairment, aged 18–72 years, were compared to 37 age‐matched controls with normal vision, allocated to two age groups: < 45 and ≥ 45 years. Self‐reported symptoms were measured using the Visual, Musculoskeletal and Balance Symptoms Questionnaire and compared with demographic and optometric variables.

Results

In total, patients with visual impairment reported more symptoms than age‐matched normally sighted controls. Younger adults in the control group were almost free from symptoms, whereas younger adults with visual impairment reported levels of symptoms equal to older adults with visual impairment. Multiple logistic regression modelling identified use of eyeglasses, magnifying aids and presence of anisometropia to be the most influential risk factors for reporting visual, musculoskeletal and balance symptoms, with accentuated influence on balance symptoms.

Conclusions

People with visual impairments and people with age‐related normal visual deficits are both predisposed to report visual, musculoskeletal and balance symptoms relative to people without visual defects or need for eye‐wear correction. Age‐related variations in symptoms were observed in the control groups but not in the visual impairment groups, with younger visual impairment patients reporting as many symptoms as older visual impairment patients. These findings indicate a need for a wider interdisciplinary perspective on eye care concerning people with visual impairment and people with need for habitual daily use of eye wear correction.

Key words:

• age differences
• musculoskeletal and balance symptoms
• optometric measures
• visual impairment

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This research has been supported by grants from Capio Research Foundation and Region Örebro län Research Committee. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Supporting information

Additional supporting information may be found in the online version of this article at the publisher’s website:

Appendix S1. VMB questionnaire.

Additional information

Funding

Capio Research Foundation

Region Örebro län Research Committee