Approximately half of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) experience depression and anxiety due to their condition, yet retina specialists often fail to address these mental health concerns, says Richard Gale, a professor at Hull York Medical School, United Kingdom. A significant number of people caring for AMD patients also experience distress related to the disease and its treatment.
Gale, during a presentation at the European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA) 2023, expressed concern that the healthcare system, especially retina specialists, is not effectively addressing these issues. He pointed out that the well-being of people with sight impairment is significantly impaired, with up to 42% of those receiving treatment for potentially blinding conditions experiencing negative mental health effects. This is often poorly measured, underestimated, and not proactively inquired about or managed.
There is a dearth of comprehensive and accurate research on mental health and well-being in AMD patients. Gale emphasized that patient-care reported outcomes are not consistently measured in the real world. He called for a consensus statement on mental health and well-being in individuals with impaired vision, involving healthcare professionals, patient advocacy groups, industry, and policymakers, to proactively address these concerns and create a coordinated approach to care.
Existing studies have used various tools to measure quality of life (QoL) among AMD patients, including the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25). The studies found that some AMD patients experienced improvements in their QoL scores after treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents. However, the inconsistency in the use of QoL tools across regions highlights the need for a standardized approach.
The rates of depression or depressive symptoms among nAMD patients reached as high as 42% across the studies, with variations based on different tools and regions, from 15% to 26% for anxiety and 8% to 18% for depression. Gale’s call for a consensus statement aims to address this critical gap in mental health care for AMD patients.
