PSS8 Productivity Losses Associated with Vision Impairment in Canada

In Canada, visual impairment is highly prevalent and is associated with a substantial socioeconomic impact on patients, and especially on caregivers. The objective of this study was to explore the current evidence on productivity losses associated with vision impairment, such as caregiver support, and to estimate the cost of these productivity losses in Canada according to visual impairment severity. A literature search was conducted in MedLine and Embase databases using the keywords “visual acuity,” “vision loss,” “burden,” and “cost.” Studies included in the search dated from January 2000 to June 2011. Data were extracted from studies that reported productivity losses according to vision impairment severity and in terms of duration of work lost. The mean number of hours requiring help per year reported in the studies was multiplied by the average Canadian hourly wage ($CAD22.85 in May 2011) to calculate the average costs associated with productivity losses. In all, 885 articles addressing the burden of vision impairment were retrieved. Of these, two reported productivity losses in terms of duration of work lost and according to the severity of vision impairment. In both studies, visual impairment severity was categorized by levels of visual acuity (VA). The duration of work lost increased with decreasing visual acuity. On average, patients incurred annual productivity loss-related costs ranging from $CAD347 to $CAD48,183 for VA scores ranging from 20/10 to worse than 20/320, respectively. Productivity losses and related costs associated with vision impairment are substantial, and they correlate with vision loss severity. Caregiver-related costs are the largest component of productivity losses.