June 2023
Volume 64, Issue 8
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2023
Perceived stress levels in patients diagnosed with and treated for neovascular age-related macular degeneration with anti-vascular endothelial growth factors
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Ida Nilsson
    Linneaus University Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Kalmar, Sweden
    Ophtalmology, Region Kalmar lan, Kalmar, Sweden
  • Samuel Ask
    Linneaus University Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Kalmar, Sweden
  • Per Nilsson
    Linneaus University Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Kalmar, Sweden
  • Camilla Mohlin
    Linneaus University Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Kalmar, Sweden
  • Hugo Senra
    University of Essex School of Health and Social Care, Colchester, United Kingdom
  • Raneen Khudair
    Ophtalmology, Region Kalmar lan, Kalmar, Sweden
  • Antonio Macedo
    Linneaus University Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Kalmar, Sweden
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Ida Nilsson None; Samuel Ask None; Per Nilsson None; Camilla Mohlin None; Hugo Senra None; Raneen Khudair None; Antonio Macedo None
  • Footnotes
    Support  FORSS 963741, 968794, 981039, Ögonfonden
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2023, Vol.64, 2225. doi:
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      Ida Nilsson, Samuel Ask, Per Nilsson, Camilla Mohlin, Hugo Senra, Raneen Khudair, Antonio Macedo; Perceived stress levels in patients diagnosed with and treated for neovascular age-related macular degeneration with anti-vascular endothelial growth factors. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2023;64(8):2225.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose : Little is known about the stress levels amongst patients treated for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Our aim was to investigate perceived stress levels amongst patients with nAMD. We hypothesized that perceived stress is associated with visual function.

Methods : Patients diagnosed with nAMD from a hospital in the southeast of Sweden and scheduled for treatment with anti-VEGFs injections were invited to participate. Patients needed to have received at least 3 injections before participation. Participants completed the Swedish versions of the Perceived Stress Scale 10 (PSS-10) and the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (NEI-VFQ-25). Visual acuity was measured before the scheduled treatment.

Results : The study included 150 patients, the mean age was 79 yrs (range 56-98 yrs) and 101 (67%) were female. The median VA in the better seeing eye was 0.22 (IQR=0.36) logMAR, mean PSS-10 score was 12.59 (SD=6.22). Participants with near vision impairment scored higher in the PSS-10 than those with normal near vision. Participants who were blind in one eye showed worse coping-ability than those with two seeing eyes. PSS-10 scores and visual function measured subjectively with the NEI-VFQ-25 subscale were correlated.

Conclusions : In line with the initial hypothesis the results show that patients with impaired vision perceive more stress than those with unimpaired vision. Subjective measures of visual function were considered better than clinical acuity at predicting perceived stress levels. Improving near acuity as well as discussing patients’ perception of visual function might reduce stress levels in this patient group.

This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.

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