Beyond clinical measures - understanding psychological and lived experiences in eye disease

Ophthalmology has historically prioritized clinical parameters, such as visual acuity and structural findings, when evaluating disease and treatment outcome. However, mounting research reveals a dynamic interplay between vision loss and broader aspects of patient wellbeing, demonstrating strong associations with anxiety, depression, and substantial reductions in quality of life. While patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly part of clinical and research practice, many existing tools place primary emphasis on functional ability and overlook critical social and psychological domains. Moreover, vision impairment manifests along a spectrum, with psychosocial impacts varying widely by diagnosis, age, stage, and context, and with limited attention to the diverse backgrounds and voices of those affected. Recent evidence underscores the importance of integrating patient perspectives to inform both care and research, yet current approaches have not fully bridged the gap between traditional clinical endpoints and the lived patient experience.This Research Topic aims to advance the science and practice of person-centered ophthalmology by investigating the emotional, psychological, and quality-of-life impacts of visual impairment. The collection seeks to identify gaps in current assessment tools, understand the experiences of diverse patient populations, and highlight innovative approaches to measuring and addressing psychosocial burden. Key questions include how best to capture the complexity of the patient journey, how to support holistic care, and how to ensure research aligns with outcomes that matter most to those living with eye disease.To deepen our understanding within these boundaries, we welcome studies exploring the subjective and psychosocial aspects of visual impairment, the limitations and innovations in current assessment frameworks, and the lived experience across ophthalmic conditions and demographic groups. We encourage submissions focused on, but not limited to, the following themes:- Development and evaluation of patient-reported outcome, quality-of-life, and experience measures- Challenges faced by individuals living with visual impairments, including treatment burden and resource needs- Patient involvement and partnership in ophthalmic research and care pathways- Innovations in digital tools for capturing patient-reported and qualitative data- Strategies to address equity, inclusivity, and access in psychosocial care and research for eye disease Topic editors: Dayyanah Sumodhee, Alexis Ceecee Britten-Jones, Nikolas Pontikos, Nabin Paudel Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80618/beyond-clinical-measures---understanding-psychological-and-lived-experiences-in-eye-disease