Literature that is not peer-reviewed and distributed through a publisher is known as ‘grey’. As it is used to inform policy and practice we reviewed the grey literature concerning emotional well-being in people with sight loss. We consulted and searched the websites of UK voluntary organizations, and scanned reference lists of previous reviews for reports available from 2001 to 2008. We summarized 24 studies in two sections: observations that assessed psychosocial well-being or demand for support services (n = 15); and evaluations of interventions that aimed to improve emotional well-being (n = 9). Observations showed that people with sight loss can report low emotional well-being, but their statistical and clinical significance requires testing. Interventions showed promise for counselling but also require further evaluation. We encourage service providers and researchers to collaborate and produce high quality research to more persuasively inform policy and practice.
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2.
Benzies, K.M., Premji, S., Hayden, K. & Serrett, K. ( 2006) ‘State-of-the-Evidence Reviews: Advantages and Challenges of Including Grey Literature’, Worldviews on Evidence-based Nursing3(1): 55-61.
3.
Bosanquet, N. & Mehta, P. ( 2009) Evidence Base to Support the UK Vision Strategy . Unpublished document. London: RNIB.
4.
Brody, B.L., Roch-Levecq, A.-C., Thomas, R.G., Kaplan, R.M. & Brown, S.I. ( 2005) ‘Self-management of Age-related Macular Degeneration at the 6-Month Follow Up’, Archives of Ophthalmology123(1): 46-53.
5.
Browne, M. ( 2002) Patient Support Services in Eye Clinics: A Nationwide Survey. London: RNIB.
6.
Burmedi, D., Becker, S., Heyl, V., Wahl, H.-W. & Himmelsbach, I. ( 2002) ‘Emotional and Social Consequences of Age-related Low Vision’, Visual Impairment Research4(1): 47-71.
7.
Coad, J., Hardicre, J. & Devitt, P. ( 2006) ‘How to Search for and Use "Grey Literature" in Research’, Nursing Times102(50): 35-6.
8.
Conn, V.S., Valentine, J.C., Cooper, H.M. & Rantz, M.J. ( 2003) ‘Grey Literature in Meta-analysis’ , Nursing Research52(4): 256-61.
9.
Cook, A.M., Finlay, I.G., Edwards, A.G.K., Hood, K., Higginson, I.J., Goodwin, D.M. ET AL. (2001) ‘Efficiency of Searching the Grey Literature in Palliative Care’, Journal of Pain and Symptom Management22(3): 797-801.
10.
Cruse, K. ( 1999) Mental Health Issues for People with Sight Problems . London: Mind.
11.
Dale, S. ( 2008a) ‘Knitting in the Dark: Narratives about the Experience of Sight Loss in a Counselling Context’, British Journal of Visual Impairment26(3): 287-97.
12.
Dale, S. ( 2008b) RNIB Bristol Counselling Project Report: Department of Health Section 64 Funded Project October 2005-June 2008. London: RNIB.
13.
Douglas, G., Pavey, S. & Spurgeon, P. ( 2005) How Far is it Possible to Measure the Impact of Non-Medical Eye Clinic Support Services? Occasional Paper, January, Number 6. London: Thomas Pocklington Trust.
14.
Douglas, G., Corcoran, C. & Pavey, S. ( 2006) Network 1000. Opinions and Circumstances of Visually Impaired People in Great Britain: Report Based on over 1000 Interviews. Birmingham: Visual Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research, School of Education, University of Birmingham.
15.
Douglas, G., Pavey, S. & Corcoran, C. ( 2008) Network 1000: Access to Information, Services and Support for People with Visual Impairment. Birmingham: Visual Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research, School of Education, University of Birmingham.
16.
Edwards, A. & Keil, S. ( 2008) Early Reach and Support: A Literature Review. London: RNIB.
17.
Gibson, M., Knapp, P., Raynor, T., Turpin, P., Atkin, K., Bradbury, H. ET AL. (2006) Medicines Information Needs of Older People with Sight Loss: End of Project Report for the Big Lottery Fund. London: RNIB.
18.
Gjonça, E. & Nazroo, J. ( 2006) An Investigation of the Circumstances of Older People with Sight Loss: Analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Occasional Paper, October, Number 9. London: Thomas Pocklington Trust.
19.
Hanson, J., Percival, J., Zako, R. & Johnson, M. ( 2002) Housing and Support Needs of Older People with Visual Impairment: Experiences and Challenges. Occasional Paper, Autumn, Number 1 . London: Thomas Pocklington Trust .
20.
Hopewell, S., Mcdonald, S., Clarke, M. & Egger, M. ( 2007) ‘Grey Literature in Meta-analyses of Randomized Trials of Health Care Interventions’, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews2, Art. No.: MR000010, DOI: 10.1002/14651858.MR000010.pub3.
21.
Hyde, M., Wiggins, R.D., Higgs, P. & Blane, D.B. ( 2003) ‘A Measure of Quality of Life in Early Old Age: The Theory, Development, and Properties of a Needs Satisfaction Model [CASP-19]’ , Aging and Mental Health7(3): 186-94.
22.
Katon, W.J. ( 2003) ‘Clinical and Health Services Relationships between Major Depression, Depressive Symptoms, and General Medical Illness’ , Biological Psychiatry54(3): 216-26.
23.
Last, J.M. ( 2001) A Dictionary of Epidemiology, 4th edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
24.
Living Options Devon Visual Impairment Group ( 2004) An Assessment of Service Provision at the Point of Diagnosis of a Permanent Visual Loss (2002-2004). Devon: Living Options Devon.
25.
Mcauley, L., Pham, B., Tugwell, P. & Moher, D. ( 2000) ‘Does the Inclusion of Grey Literature Influence Estimates of Intervention Effectiveness Reported in Meta-analyses?’ , Lancet356(9237): 1228-31.
26.
Mcbride, S. ( 2001) Patients Talking (2). The Eye Clinic Journey Experienced by Blind and Partially Sighted Adults: A Quantitative Study. London: RNIB.
27.
Mclaughlan, B. ( 2008) Good Practice in Sight: How Excellent Services for Blind and Partially Sighted Adults Can Boost the Overall Performance of Local Authorities . London: RNIB .
28.
Mangione, C.M., Lee, P.P., Guiterrez, P.R., Spritzer, K., Berry,S., Hays, R.D. & The National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire Field Test Investigators (2001) ‘Development of the 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire’ , Archives of Ophthalmology119(7): 1050-58.
29.
Nash, T. ( 2008) Improving Services for People with Sight and/or Hearing Impairments: A Consultation of Service Users. Devon: Living Options Devon.
30.
Nicholls, T. ( 2004) RNIB Bristol Counselling Project Report: Department of Health Section 64 Funded Project: September 2001 - August 2004. London: RNIB.
31.
Nyman, S.R., Gosney, M.A. & Victor, C.R. ( 2009) ‘Psychosocial Impact of Vision Loss in Working Age Adults’, British Journal of Ophthalmology. Published Online First: 22 October, doi: 10.1136/bjo.2009.164814.
32.
Nyman, S.R., Gosney, M.A. & Victor, C.R.(2010a) ‘Counselling for People with Sight Loss in the UK: The Need for Provision and the Need for Evidence’, British Journal of Ophthalmology94(3): 385-6.
33.
Nyman, S.R., Gosney, M.A. & Victor, C.R. ( 2010b) ‘The Psychosocial Impact of Vision Loss on Older People’, Generations Review20(2). Available at: http://www.britishgerontology.org/10newsletter2
34.
Percival, J. ( 2003) Meeting the Needs of Older People with Visual Impairment: Social Care or Social Exclusion? Occasional Paper, October, Number 2. London: Thomas Pocklington Trust.
35.
Pey, T., Nzegwu, F. & Dooley, G. ( 2007) Functionality and the Needs of Blind and Partially Sighted Adults in the UK: A Survey. Reading: Guide Dogs.
36.
Rnib (2007) RNIB Emotional Support Telephone Service 2006/7 Report. London: RNIB.
37.
Rnib (2008) RNIB NI/Optometry Pathway Pilot Project: Oct 2007 - Mar 2008. London: RNIB.
38.
Rovner, B.W. & Casten, R.J. ( 2008) ‘Preventing Late-life Depression in Age-related Macular Degeneration’, American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry16(6): 454-9.
39.
Saunders, A. ( 2005a) RNIB Emotional Support Telephone Service Evaluation . London: RNIB.
40.
Saunders, A. ( 2005b) RNIB Finding Your Feet (3) Residential Programme Evaluation . London: RNIB.
41.
Saunders, A. ( 2008) RNIB Tele Befriending: A Longitudinal Study of the Social and Psychological Benefits for Adults with Sight Loss from Participation in Weekly Telephone Social Groups. London: RNIB.
42.
Smith, D. ( 2003) Evaluation Report: Sight Service One Year Pilot Project: Counselling in Northumberland and Tyneside. Newcastle : Sight Service.
43.
Stanford, P., Waterman, H., Russell, W.B. & Harper, R.A.(2009) ‘Psychosocial Adjustment in Age Related Macular Degeneration’ , British Journal of Visual Impairment27(2): 129-46.
44.
Stephens, J. ( 2007) The Emotional Well-being of Blind and Partially Sighted People. Reading: Guide Dogs .
45.
Thame, P. ( 2005) Torbay and South Devon Visual Impairment Research Project . Devon: Living Options Devon.
46.
Thetford, C., Robinson, J., Mehta, J., Knox, P. & Wong, D. ( 2008) The Changing Needs of People with Sight Loss: Executive Summary. London: Thomas Pocklington Trust.
47.
Vale, D. ( 2001) Improving Lives: Priorities in Health and Social Care for Blind and Partially Sighted People. London: RNIB.
48.
Vale, D. ( 2004) Unseen: Neglect, Isolation and Household Poverty amongst Older People with Sight Loss. London: RNIB.
49.
Ware, J.E., Kosinski, M. & Keller, S.D. ( 1996) ‘A 12-item Short-form Health Survey: Construction of Scales and Preliminary Tests of Reliability and Validity’, Medical Care34(3): 220-33.
50.
World Health Organization (2005) State of the World’s Sight, VISION 2020: The Right to Sight 1999-2005: Executive Summary. Geneva: World Health Organization.
