Predictors of Job Retention After Onset of Visual Impairment in Late Middle Age

Objectives: We investigated factors associated with job retention after developing a visual impairment in late middle adulthood. Methods: Using longitudinal survey data from the Health and Retirement Study, we identified respondents who first reported poor eyesight or legal blindness at age 44-64 years in Waves 3-14 and who were employed in the previous wave. We conducted a multiple logistic regression analysis with job retention as the dependent variable and health and socioeconomic characteristics as independent variables. Results: Women, people who were married or partnered, and people with fair or better self-reported health were more likely to retain employment after vision loss, whereas people with more chronic health conditions were less likely to retain employment. Discussion: Poor health and chronic health conditions may prompt late middle-aged adults to leave the labor force after developing vision loss. Timely vocational rehabilitation services can help employed people with vision loss retain employment.