Mental Health Effects of Losing Your Eyesight

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIs Vision Impairment Widespread?Physical Health EffectsMental Health EffectsCoping

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Table of Contents

Is Vision Impairment Widespread?

Physical Health Effects

Mental Health Effects

Coping

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Losing your vision doesn’t just affect your ability to see. As one of the five major senses, problems with your eyesight have ripple effects on other areas of your life and can pose new challenges. Loss of eyesight can be especially difficult for your mental well-being.

This article will explore the physical and mental health effects of vision loss, how to cope with the loss as well as how to avoid vision loss.

The current statistics on those who have serious problems with their eyesight are staggering.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports the following statistic on vision impairment: “Approximately 12 million people 40 years and over in the United States have vision impairment, including 1 million who are blind, 3 million who have vision impairment after correction, and 8 million who have vision impairment due to uncorrected refractive error.”

Losing VisionThe CDC also reports that “one in four adults with vision loss reported anxiety or depression.” Younger adults who lost their vision had nearly five times the risk of these mental health conditions compared to adults 65 years and older. This could be due to a lack of “effective coping or self-management skills” in the young adults.

Losing Vision

The CDC also reports that “one in four adults with vision loss reported anxiety or depression.” Younger adults who lost their vision had nearly five times the risk of these mental health conditions compared to adults 65 years and older. This could be due to a lack of “effective coping or self-management skills” in the young adults.

The number of those dealing with limited vision is predicted to increase, too,as the world’s population ages.

Physical Health Effects of Vision Loss

The most common eye disorders leading to loss of vision or blindness are:

Vision loss doesn’t just affect your ability to see what’s in front of you. For example, it can affect how you walk because you might becomefearfulabout falling or running into a pole.

Based on recent research,impaired eyesight has a substantial effect on people’s activities of daily living, too. That includes everyday functions and routine activities like using the toilet, showering, dressing, and eating.

Mental Health Effects of Vision Loss

Vision is an important sensory modality.Mental healthproblems are an added burden for people already contending with the challenges of losing their vision. Despite the huge numbers of people dealing with serious eye problems like this, screening and treatment are nowhere near the levels they should be.

Loss of sight is associated with the following psychological and psychosocial problems.

Loss of Confidence

Some people experience a gradual loss of vision, while others are born blind or become blind suddenly. This can often be traumatic. And, adjusting to a world that isn’t designed for visually impaired people impacts a person’s confidence.

They might also feel embarrassment and shame about not being able to do things others can do. Rather than dealing with theshame, they avoid thinking about the problem or start to isolate themselves from others.

Also, many with vision loss might feel like a burden to family and friends who may have to help them with daily tasks.The loss of independence can be disappointing to many.

Loneliness

Vision impairment is often irreversible so it’s important to address how it can result inloneliness.

Losing your vision can adversely affect interpersonal interactions and social engagement. For instance, someone dealing with vision loss might isolate themselves, and attend fewer in-person meetings and get-togethers because of their frustrations and challenges in dealing with vision loss.

In a recent study,scientists examined how loneliness impacts people with vision impairment. When looking at those with sight impairment, loneliness was common. The rates of loneliness of those with vision impairment were consistently higher across various age groups compared to the general population.

Depression

It’s understandable that people experiencing vision loss will get mildly or clinically depressed. One commentary in an issue ofThe Journal of the American Medical Association(JAMA) Ophthalmologysays there’s robust evidence of a link between vision loss anddepression.

Researchers say, “Those with vision loss are 2 to 3 times more likely to be depressed than the general population.”

Depression is a far-from-uncommon risk for people who have lost their vision from age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Frustration

How to Cope With Vision Loss

People will react differently to vision loss, but it’s important to acknowledge andgrieve the lossof your vision. Being aware of how you feel and the reality of the situation you are in is important.

Here are some ways that you can cope with vision loss:

9 Types of Grief People May Experience, According to Experts

A Word From Verywell

Vision loss can be painful to deal with, so it’s important to prioritize your mental health so you can learn how to cope with losing your eyesight. Speaking to amental health counselorcan help you navigate complex emotions while giving you resources and tools to gain back a sense of independence.

Mental Health Effects of Losing Your Eyesight

14 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vision health initiative: Fast facts about vision loss.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vision health initiative: Vision loss and mental health.Cleveland Clinic.Common Eye Disorders and Vision Problems.Kempen GI, Ballemans J, Ranchor AV, van Rens GH, Zijlstra GA.The impact of low vision on activities of daily living, symptoms of depression, feelings of anxiety and social support in community-living older adults seeking vision rehabilitation services [published correction appears in Qual Life Res. 2012 Oct;21(8):1413].Qual Life Res. 2012;21(8):1405-1411. doi:10.1007/s11136-011-0061-yCDC.Vision Loss and Mental Health.Making Eye Health a Population Health Imperative: Vision for Tomorrow. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US).The Impact of Vision Loss. 2016.Brunes A, B Hansen M, Heir T.Loneliness among adults with visual impairment: prevalence, associated factors, and relationship to life satisfaction.Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2019;17(1):24. Published 2019 Feb 1. doi:10.1186/s12955-019-1096-yMorse AR.Addressing the Maze of Vision Loss and Depression.JAMA Ophthalmol.2019;137(7):832–833. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2019.1234Rovner BW, Casten RJ, Hegel MT, et al.Low vision depression prevention trial in age-related macular degeneration: a randomized clinical trial.Ophthalmology. 2014;121(11):2204-2211. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2014.05.002American Foundation for the Blind.AFB Accessibility Resources.Cleveland Clinic.Vision Loss: Coping.GoldenCarers.20 Activities for the Visually-Impaired.ADA.gov.Service Animals.Cleveland Clinic.Vision Loss: Coping.

14 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vision health initiative: Fast facts about vision loss.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vision health initiative: Vision loss and mental health.Cleveland Clinic.Common Eye Disorders and Vision Problems.Kempen GI, Ballemans J, Ranchor AV, van Rens GH, Zijlstra GA.The impact of low vision on activities of daily living, symptoms of depression, feelings of anxiety and social support in community-living older adults seeking vision rehabilitation services [published correction appears in Qual Life Res. 2012 Oct;21(8):1413].Qual Life Res. 2012;21(8):1405-1411. doi:10.1007/s11136-011-0061-yCDC.Vision Loss and Mental Health.Making Eye Health a Population Health Imperative: Vision for Tomorrow. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US).The Impact of Vision Loss. 2016.Brunes A, B Hansen M, Heir T.Loneliness among adults with visual impairment: prevalence, associated factors, and relationship to life satisfaction.Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2019;17(1):24. Published 2019 Feb 1. doi:10.1186/s12955-019-1096-yMorse AR.Addressing the Maze of Vision Loss and Depression.JAMA Ophthalmol.2019;137(7):832–833. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2019.1234Rovner BW, Casten RJ, Hegel MT, et al.Low vision depression prevention trial in age-related macular degeneration: a randomized clinical trial.Ophthalmology. 2014;121(11):2204-2211. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2014.05.002American Foundation for the Blind.AFB Accessibility Resources.Cleveland Clinic.Vision Loss: Coping.GoldenCarers.20 Activities for the Visually-Impaired.ADA.gov.Service Animals.Cleveland Clinic.Vision Loss: Coping.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vision health initiative: Fast facts about vision loss.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vision health initiative: Vision loss and mental health.Cleveland Clinic.Common Eye Disorders and Vision Problems.Kempen GI, Ballemans J, Ranchor AV, van Rens GH, Zijlstra GA.The impact of low vision on activities of daily living, symptoms of depression, feelings of anxiety and social support in community-living older adults seeking vision rehabilitation services [published correction appears in Qual Life Res. 2012 Oct;21(8):1413].Qual Life Res. 2012;21(8):1405-1411. doi:10.1007/s11136-011-0061-yCDC.Vision Loss and Mental Health.Making Eye Health a Population Health Imperative: Vision for Tomorrow. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US).The Impact of Vision Loss. 2016.Brunes A, B Hansen M, Heir T.Loneliness among adults with visual impairment: prevalence, associated factors, and relationship to life satisfaction.Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2019;17(1):24. Published 2019 Feb 1. doi:10.1186/s12955-019-1096-yMorse AR.Addressing the Maze of Vision Loss and Depression.JAMA Ophthalmol.2019;137(7):832–833. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2019.1234Rovner BW, Casten RJ, Hegel MT, et al.Low vision depression prevention trial in age-related macular degeneration: a randomized clinical trial.Ophthalmology. 2014;121(11):2204-2211. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2014.05.002American Foundation for the Blind.AFB Accessibility Resources.Cleveland Clinic.Vision Loss: Coping.GoldenCarers.20 Activities for the Visually-Impaired.ADA.gov.Service Animals.Cleveland Clinic.Vision Loss: Coping.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vision health initiative: Fast facts about vision loss.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vision health initiative: Vision loss and mental health.

Cleveland Clinic.Common Eye Disorders and Vision Problems.

Kempen GI, Ballemans J, Ranchor AV, van Rens GH, Zijlstra GA.The impact of low vision on activities of daily living, symptoms of depression, feelings of anxiety and social support in community-living older adults seeking vision rehabilitation services [published correction appears in Qual Life Res. 2012 Oct;21(8):1413].Qual Life Res. 2012;21(8):1405-1411. doi:10.1007/s11136-011-0061-y

CDC.Vision Loss and Mental Health.

Making Eye Health a Population Health Imperative: Vision for Tomorrow. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US).The Impact of Vision Loss. 2016.

Brunes A, B Hansen M, Heir T.Loneliness among adults with visual impairment: prevalence, associated factors, and relationship to life satisfaction.Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2019;17(1):24. Published 2019 Feb 1. doi:10.1186/s12955-019-1096-y

Morse AR.Addressing the Maze of Vision Loss and Depression.JAMA Ophthalmol.2019;137(7):832–833. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2019.1234

Rovner BW, Casten RJ, Hegel MT, et al.Low vision depression prevention trial in age-related macular degeneration: a randomized clinical trial.Ophthalmology. 2014;121(11):2204-2211. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2014.05.002

American Foundation for the Blind.AFB Accessibility Resources.

Cleveland Clinic.Vision Loss: Coping.

GoldenCarers.20 Activities for the Visually-Impaired.

ADA.gov.Service Animals.

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