Improving Vision and Quality of Life in the Nursing Home

Improving Vision and Quality of Life in the Nursing Home

The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate whether interventions to improve vision in nursing home residents have an impact on residents' health-related quality of life. The interventions being evaluated are correction of refractive error (near-sightedness, far-sightedness, presbyopia) and cataract surgery.

The purpose of this project is two-fold: 1.) to establish the psychometric properties of the Nursing Home Vision-Specific Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) instrument, and; 2.) to evaluate the responsiveness of this instrument. Responsiveness will be assessed in two independent preliminary prospective intervention evaluations. The first responsiveness evaluation will involve a new spectacle intervention and the second will involve first eye cataract surgery. In addition, we will examine the association between the responsiveness of this instrument, and changes in visual functioning measures and other demographic variables.

Inclusion Criteria:

• at least 60 years of age or older
• expected to stay in facility foe at least 8 months
• stable medical condition
• moderately cognitively impaired or better

Exclusion Criteria:

• those not meeting inclusion criteria