Cataract and Diabetic Retinopathy: Impact on Quality of Life

Abstract

This chapter explores the impact of two distinctive ocular conditions, cataract and diabetic retinopathy, and their treatment interventions from the patient’s perspective. We focus on visual functioning, namely, daily activities such as reading, driving etc., as well as the more holistic concept of vision-specific quality of life (VSQoL) which encompasses aspects beyond functioning including emotional well-being, concerns, social interaction, convenience and work. Both conditions may cause severe visual impairment in their late stages which can considerably affect patients’ ability to perform and participate in day-to-day tasks and substantially affect their overall QoL. Cataract is largely ..