ABSTRACT
Background: Visual impairment is a global health concern that significantly impacts individuals' psychological well-being. Studies suggest a strong link between visual impairment and mental health disorders, particularly anxiety and depression. However, limited research exists on this relationship within the Nigerian context. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between visual impairment, anxiety, and depression among adults attending eye clinics in Benin City, Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among visually impaired adults at selected eye clinics. Participants underwent visual acuity assessments and completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for Depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) for anxiety, self-administered by patients during their visit. Data was analyzed using SPSS software, employing descriptive statistics and inferential tests such as chi-square, Pearson’s correlation, and ANOVA to assess associations between visual impairment severity and mental health outcomes. Results: Among the 21 participants, 85.7% had moderate visual impairment, while 9.5% were classified as blind. Anxiety and depression levels varied across participants, with mild anxiety (38.1%) and mild depression (52.4%) being the most common. The findings indicated a significant association between anxiety and depression (p = 0.024), though no statistically significant relationship was found between visual impairment severity and either anxiety (p = 0.373) or depression (p = 0.523). Additionally, no significant associations were observed between gender, age, and the mental health variables.
Conclusion: The study highlights the psychological burden associated with visual impairment, emphasizing the need for integrated mental health support in vision care. Further research with a larger sample size is recommended to better understand the complex interplay between visual impairment and mental health in the Nigerian population.
Keywords: Visual impairment, Anxiety, Depression, Mental health.
