Impact of visual impairments on the quality of life

Due to its multidimensionality, the concept of quality of life is difficult to define and even more difficult to measure. Vision loss is merely one of many factors that affect the assessment of quality of life. However, because it interferes with the functioning of an individual as a whole in all areas of life, it can lower the quality of life. The prevalence of visual impairment and blindness in the world is also increasing with the growing number of the elderly population, which is most often exposed to vision loss. With improved living and health conditions, life expectancy is increasing, and with it, the expected greater prevalence of visual impairment and blindness in the future. Therefore, in order to ensure an adequate quality of life for people with visual impairment and blindness, a good understanding of their needs is necessary. In this Master's thesis, we demonstrated the development of the concept and research of the quality of life through a review of domestic and foreign expert literature. The study, which included 50 participants aged between 19 and 84, gave us an insight into the state of the quality of life of people with visual impairment and blindness in Slovenia and examined the factors related to it. To assess the quality of life of people with visual impairment and blindness, we used questionnaires measuring quality of life and selected factors (symptoms of depression, level of loneliness, satisfaction with life, support of the family, independence in daily tasks, life-space). The results showed that the presence of vision loss lowers the quality of life of people with visual impairment and blindness, somewhat more prominently within certain parameters, but generally less pronounced compared to the findings of previous research. These also show significant correlations between increasing rates of vision loss and reduced quality of life