To evaluate the health-related quality of life (QOL) in Koreans according to visual acuity.

The fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV) is a nationwide survey. The present study included 11,022 Koreans who completed the KNHANES IV. The relation of visual acuity and QOL was verified, and EuroQoL 5D (EQ-5D) was identified using the adjusted mean based on linear regression analysis.

As visual acuity decreased, QOL decreased. QOL in mobility, usual activities, and pain/discomfort were affected by the vision gradient, while self-care and anxiety/depression were less influenced by the vision gradient. In particular, QOL in usual activities was significantly affected by the visual gradient. Subjects with a visual acuity of 1.6-3.0 were less likely to have a low QOL in usual activities compared to subjects with a visual acuity of 0.0-0.5 as a reference group (adjusted Odds Ratio = 23.6, 95% CI, 4.8-115.5). QOL in usual activities was statistically low in subjects older than 65 years of age, with low household monthly income, low education, and living without a spouse.

As visual acuity decreased, QOL in the aspect of mobility, usual activities, and pain/discomfort decreased severely, which resulted from activity limitation. Considering that the risk group with increasing age, low income, low education, and living without a spouse had lower QOL, the most important is to increase activity, which can induce the improvement of QOL in Koreans who have low visual acuity and related risk factors is.