Vision restoration in glaucoma: improved subjective visual function after personalised digital lifestyle coaching

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Digital Health
• Psychology

Background:

• Glaucoma-associated vision loss negatively impacts quality of life, correlating with stress and anxiety.
• Limited access to psychological support and lifestyle information hinders patient coping mechanisms.
• The VisionWise (ViWi) digital lifestyle education course was developed to address these needs for glaucoma patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the personalized digital lifestyle education course, ViWi, in improving subjective well-being, disease knowledge, lifestyle habits, and subjective vision in glaucoma patients.
• To assess the feasibility and usability of the ViWi intervention.
• To explore potential placebo or expectancy effects on subjective vision.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory AB/BA crossover study design was employed with 27 glaucoma patients.
• Participants completed questionnaires on stress, depression, anxiety, subjective vision, personality, and glaucoma knowledge at three time points.
• Intervention effects were analyzed using pre-post comparisons within each group (AB: T1-T2, BA: T1-T3).

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in subjective general vision was observed in the ViWi intervention group (AB) and unexpectedly in the control group (BA) during the waiting period, suggesting a placebo effect.
• The intervention led to positive changes in stress-related measures, depressive symptoms, and anxiety.
• High usability ratings for ViWi were reported, with no adverse events.

Conclusions:

• ViWi is a feasible digital coaching tool that can partially improve subjective vision in glaucoma patients, empowering them with coping strategies for vision loss.
• Observed vision improvements, partly attributed to placebo effects, highlight the role of positive attitudes in managing anxiety and stress, known glaucoma co-factors.
• ViWi promotes patient education and proactivity, potentially shifting glaucoma care towards a personalized, patient-centered model within predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine frameworks.