Undetected Visual Impairment Among Older People and Its Impact on Vision-Related Quality of Life: A Study Protocol.

Ageing is a continuous process of physiological changes that occur over time and affect both ability and function, including vision. A major health issue for older people is visual impairment, which affects both daily activities and quality of life. Undetected visual impairment is a significant problem. Therefore, early detection is crucial to enable older people to optimise their vision and/or receive eye care. This study protocol aims to explore the prevalence of undetected visual impairment among the ageing population and its impact on their quality of life. This study has an exploratory design. We include participants attending a healthcare centre and participants attending an optician, aged 75 years and older, in Sweden. At baseline eye examinations, fundus photography, the National Eye Institute 25-item Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) and health economic data are collected. Individual semi-structured interviews ( = 25-30) will then be conducted about older people's experiences of visual impairment, both consequences and strategies for coping with visual impairment in daily life. The NEI VFQ-25 and health economic data will be collected at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. : This study will provide important knowledge to facilitate early detection of visual impairment in older people, thereby providing a deeper understanding of methods to preserve visual function and quality of life despite the presence of visual impairment.