Findings from a new study released by the Thomas Pocklington Trust show that older people in the poorest fifth of the population have an almost 80% higher risk of developing severe visual impairment than those from the wealthiest fifth.
This is compounded by the finding that deterioration in vision over a two year period was related to decreases in income, quality of life and social activity.
People whose vision deteriorated from good or very good to fair or poor were found to have levels of depression that increased by 29% and a fall in income levels of 19%, compared to the changes for those whose vision remained stable.
A separate study funded by Thomas Pocklington showed that during their working life, people with sight loss can face at least 25% higher costs for everyday living than those who are fully sighted.
The study, found that even when people have some vision, sight loss affects so many aspects of life that additional costs increase the weekly budget accepted as the Minimum Income Standard by over £50, as compared to a sighted adult.
Changes in vision in older people: causes and impact is available @ www.pocklington-trust.org.uk