Effects of duration and number of symptoms on vision-related anxiety in patients with Inherited Retinal Diseases

Background: Patients with Inherited Retinal Diseases (IRDs) are at increased risk for vision-related anxiety due to progressive and irreversible vision loss, yet little is known about risk factors for anxiety in these patients. Materials and Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective cross-sectional study at a large academic center. 128 adults with an IRD and without other significant eye conditions were recruited between December 2016 and March 2020. Participants were asked about the duration and number of symptoms they had in the following vision domains: reading, contrast vision, color vision, glare/light sensitivity, night vision, and peripheral vision. The outcomes of interest were the two domains of the Michigan Vision-Related Anxiety Questionnaire (MVAQ), rod- and cone-function related anxiety. We conducted an adjusted analysis to isolate the independent effect of duration and number of symptoms on vision-related anxiety. Results: Of 126 participants had complete data, 62 (49%) were female and 64 (51%) were male, with an average age of 49 years (range: 18–87). Patients with duration of symptoms for greater than 25 years had an adjusted anxiety theta that was one-half standard deviations lower than patients with symptoms for less time. Patients with higher number of symptoms had higher anxiety theta after adjusting for confounding variables (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The number of symptoms but not the duration of symptoms, is an independent risk factor for vision-related anxiety. Patients with more symptoms are at higher risk for vision-related anxiety. Having symptoms for longer than 25 years may reduce this anxiety.