Abstract
Background
To evaluate visual outcomes and quality of life in soldiers after ocular trauma, with a focus on how vision impairment affects their daily overall well-being.
Methods
This cross-sectional observational study was conducted among soldiers who sustained ocular trauma in either or both eyes, resulting in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of ≤6/36 in at least one eye and had been clinically stable for a minimum of six months. After ocular examination, the National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual-Function Questionnaire was introduced to measure vision-related quality of life. Data was analyzed using SPSS-version-23.0. T-test and one-way ANOVA tests were used to see the difference between groups. P < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results
Thirty-eight male participants, all with monocular vision loss, were included. Mean age at presentation was 37.3 ± 8.4years (range: 23–55years). The most common cause of injury was road-traffic accidents (42.1%). Low visual quality of life was reported in VFQ25 composite score (56.47 ± 15.97) and across all 11 subscales. Specifically, participants with BCVA ≤6/36 reported substantial difficulty in terms of ‘ocular pain’ and ‘near activities’ (p < 0.05). Also, a significant difference in ‘ocular pain’ was found between those with ‘no perception of light’ and those who had undergone removal of one eye (p = 0.00). The majority reported significant challenges in ‘role difficulties’ (p = 0.01) and ‘dependency’ (p = 0.04).
Conclusion
Ocular trauma significantly lowers visual quality of life, with substantial deficits not only in visual acuity but also in daily functioning, emotional well-being and independence. Beyond visual acuity, factors such as role difficulties, dependency, driving and mental health should be prioritized, when assessing recovery and rehabilitation needs for those recovering from trauma.
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