Objectives: This study examined the associations of two measures of vision impairment (i.e., a clinical measure of visual acuity and self-reported vision status) and social isolation in a nationally representative sample of Americans aged 60 and older.
Method: Five cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES IV; 1999-2008) were used to estimate successive logistic regression models, holding constant demographic characteristics, chronic illness, functional limitations, and disability.
Results: Effects of both measures of vision impairment in predicting social isolation were substantially reduced or eliminated in adjusted models. Where significant effects of vision impairment on social isolation remained, a strong effect was found for self-reported poor vision (odds ratio = 1.53; 95% confidence interval = [1.08, 2.16]).
Discussion: As one of the better vision-related predictors of social isolation, self-reported vision is among the easiest and inexpensive to assess. The use of self-reported vision as a screening criterion for social isolation is discussed.
Keywords: disability; older adults; social isolation; vision impairment.