Chronic Pain in Individuals Who Have Visual Impairments: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize the state of knowledge regarding chronic pain in individuals who have visual impairments (i.e., those who are blind or have low vision) with respect to: (1) the prevalence, impact, and predictors of chronic pain; (2) the assessment instruments that have been developed for assessing pain in individuals with visual impairments; and (3) the efficacy of the psychological and exercise-based treatments for the management of chronic pain in this population. Methods: A bibliographic search was carried out using three databases (i.e., ScienceDirect, PubMed, and the National Center for Biotechnology Information) from their inception to July 2024. Results: A total of 437 articles were retrieved, 73 were selected for evaluation, and eight were included in the review. Discussion: The findings from the reviewed studies show that chronic pain—chronic neck and upper back pain in particular—are common in individuals with visual impairments. Very few studies were identified that developed or examined the psychometric properties of pain measures or that examined the efficacy of psychological or exercise-based treatments, for individuals with vision impairments. Additional research is needed to understand the nature, impact, predictors, assessment, and treatment of chronic pain in individuals with vision impairments. Implications for Practitioners: Research is needed to develop assessment measures that are sensitive to the needs and characteristics of this population. There is very little data on the efficacy of psychological and exercise-based treatments for this population. It is of particular importance for rehabilitation professionals to understand that the undertreatment of pain may prolong ocular morbidity in this group of individuals and that high levels of acute eye pain intensity might be responsible for a poor response to treatment.