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The Effect of Sports Participation on Quality of Life in Subjects with Low Vision
Author(s) -
Ilhan B.,
Idil A.,
Ilhan İ.,
Erkan Turan K.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2016.0284
Subject(s) - vitality , athletes , rehabilitation , quality of life (healthcare) , visual acuity , marital status , low vision , physical therapy , medicine , visual impairment , psychology , gerontology , optometry , psychiatry , population , ophthalmology , nursing , philosophy , theology , environmental health
Purpose The aim of this study was to determine the effect of sports on quality of life in subjects with low vision. It was also aimed to determine the effects of various sociodemographic variables on the quality of life in subjects with visual disability. Methods One hundred athletes with visual loss sampled from those who participated in national games for people with visual disability and 100 subjects who did not participate in sports matched to athletes according to age, gender and visual level were included in the study. All subjects had best corrected visual acuity less than 6/60 or visual field less than 10 degrees in the better eye. Sociodemographic variables were recorded and ophthalmic examinations were performed. The Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐36) was applied. Results Age, gender, marital status, working status, the age of visual loss and visual level were similar in groups. Athletes had a higher level of education (p = 0.049). Scores of all dimensions of the SF‐36 were higher among athletes compared to controls. The scores of vitality and mental health were higher among men (p = 0.017, p = 0.008). Subjects who had a job had higher vitality scores (p = 0.026). Conclusions Sports participation improves scores of all dimensions of the SF‐36 in subjects with visual disability. Success of the rehabilitation and quality of life would improve if appropriate sports are included in the rehabilitation program. Increase of the educational level and having a job improves quality of life in these subjects. Scores of some dimensions of quality of life are lower in women with visual disability. This indicates that support and rehabilitation programs for women with visual disability should be developed specifically.