According to a new study published in the March 7 edition of the journal JAMA Ophthalmology, individuals with depression are more likely to have self-reported vision loss. After analyzing 10,000 adults over the age of 20 who took part in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2005 and 2008, taking a number of factors like age, sex and general health into consideration, researchers determined there was a significant association between self-reported vision loss and depression. The rate of depression was calculated to be about 11% among people with self-reported vision loss and about 5% among those who did not report vision loss.
“This study provides further evidence from a national sample to generalize the relationship between depression and vision loss to adults across the age spectrum,” said Dr. Xinzhi Zhang, of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and his colleagues in a JAMA Ophthalmology journal news release. “Better recognition of depression among people reporting reduced ability to perform routine activities of daily living due to vision loss is warranted.”
The study did not show if vision loss or depression causes the other.

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If you have any questions about our blog, “The Link between Vision Loss and Depression,” or wish to schedule an appointment, please contact Dr. Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists at the Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or visiting AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!
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Source:
Vision Loss and Depression may be linked WebMD