Author(s): Ophthalmology Times Staff Reports
Fact checked by: Sheryl Stevenson
Key Takeaways
- GA significantly impacts patients’ independence, with many reducing activities like driving and hobbies, affecting their sense of self and increasing isolation.
- Emotional challenges, including anxiety and depression, are prevalent among GA patients, exacerbated by the uncertainty of disease progression and lack of treatment options.
- Caregivers play a crucial role in supporting GA patients, but this responsibility can lead to physical and emotional strain on caregivers themselves.
- Improved education and awareness about GA are essential, as many patients receive insufficient information, leading to misunderstandings and unrealistic expectations about the disease.
Findings from a recent global survey provide a comprehensive look at the prevalence and impact of geographic atrophy (GA)–related experiences, offering valuable insights into the lives of those affected by the disease. This article highlights the findings of the survey, discusses its implications, and emphasizes the need for improved education and care strategies for individuals with GA.
To assess the experiences of those living with GA, a team of researchers conducted the Geographic Atrophy Insights Survey (GAINS) between October 12 and December 10, 2021, and captured the responses of individuals 60 years or older with a self-reported GA diagnosis living in the United States, Canada, Australia, and 6 European countries.1
“The findings from this survey exemplify the many impacts that GA-related visual decline has on the lives of individuals, the need for improved educational materials related to GA, and the experiences of interacting with clinicians,” the researchers wrote. “Importantly, our results demonstrate many similarities exist in the responses of individuals with unilateral and bilateral GA, indicating that the impact of GA on a person’s life is similar, in some aspects, regardless of whether only 1 eye is affected [by] this disease.”
Read more: https://shorturl.at/gJJIJ
Source: Ophthalmology Times