Photo Credit: Kriangsak
The following is a summary of “Impact of Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration on Daily Activities and Quality of Life: Interview Findings From Patients and Caregivers Relative to a General Population,” published in the February 2025 issue of Clinical Ophthalmology by Chamberlain et al.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to assess the impacts of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on patients and their caregivers.
They enrolled patients with dry AMD, caregivers, and controls (individuals without dry AMD but matched by age, sex, and comorbidity) from March 2021 to June 2023. Participants aged ≥ 50 years were recruited from the United States and the United Kingdom, with patients having the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) score from their latest eye exam post-diagnosis. Controls had mild visual impairment, and unpaid adult caregivers of patients were included. Key outcomes assessed were functional impairment affecting daily activities, quality of life (QoL), and mental health in patients compared to controls, as well as caregiver perspectives on patient limitations, caregiver burden, QoL, and work productivity.
The results showed that 30 patients, 20 controls, and 20 caregivers were interviewed. Patients had a mean age of 65.1 years, with 63.3% female, 83.3% White, and 96.7% from the United States. Based on BCVA scores, 70.0% had mild visual impairment, while 30.0% had moderate to severe impairment. Most patients reported difficulty with daily activities, whereas controls had none or mild difficulties. Dry AMD impacted more daily activities in patients than visual impairment did in controls (mean 4.5 vs 2.1), with reading, shopping, and hobbies most affected. Emotional problems were more frequent in patients than in controls. Those with moderate to severe impairment experienced greater activity limitations than those with mild impairment. Among caregivers, most were employed, with 46.2% reporting work productivity was affected at least sometimes, and many faced mental, emotional, and daily life burdens.
Investigators concluded that patients with dry AMD impaired functional ability regardless of visual impairment and posed significant burdens to caregivers.
