Support for Older People With Vision Impairment: A Rapid Realist Review

Vaidya, Anju; Davies, Mark; Wallace, Carolyn; Anderson, Pippa; Jones, Mari; Molik, Bablin; North, Rachel V; Ryan, Barbara; Verity, Fiona; Acton, Jennifer H

doi:10.1007/s44402-026-00125-0

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Support for Older People With Vision Impairment: A Rapid Realist Review

Anju Vaidya

, Mark Davies

, Carolyn Wallace

, Pippa Anderson

, Mari Jones

, Bablin Molik, Rachel V North

, Barbara Ryan

, Fiona Verity

, Jennifer H Acton

Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics

Swansea University Authors: Pippa Anderson , Mari Jones

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DOI (Published version): 10.1007/s44402-026-00125-0

Abstract

Vision impairment among older adults is a significant public health issue impacting their physical and mental health and overall quality of life. However, access and navigation of support services are inconsistent and lacking. Recognising the need to gain insight to improve access to services in thi...

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Published in:	Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics
ISSN:	1475-1313
Published:	Springer Nature 2026
Online Access:	Check full text
URI:	https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa72173

first_indexed	2026-06-26T11:39:21Z
last_indexed	2026-06-27T05:11:58Z
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spelling	2026-06-26T13:24:45.5950608 v2 72173 2026-06-26 Support for Older People With Vision Impairment: A Rapid Realist Review 128cdedfba6e5e6374fdc85d5c78c428 0000-0003-2959-2671 Pippa Anderson Pippa Anderson true false 8e326860810f5f960b088db10ef58906 0000-0001-9661-4899 Mari Jones Mari Jones true false 2026-06-26 HSOC Vision impairment among older adults is a significant public health issue impacting their physical and mental health and overall quality of life. However, access and navigation of support services are inconsistent and lacking. Recognising the need to gain insight to improve access to services in this population, this review aimed to understand how, why, for whom, to what extent and in what context the provisions for care and support for older people with vision impairment worked. A rapid Realist review was undertaken. Six databases (Cinahl, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Social Services Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts and Sociology Collection) were searched. The review followed the RAMESES Quality Standards for Realist Synthesis and retrieved documents were screened systematically to identify relevant papers. The papers were analysed through iterative and simultaneous use of coding, consolidating and conceptual mapping process to develop a Realist programme theory. Project Advisory Group members contributed to the processes. The Realist review was conducted from July 2023 to July 2024. Ninety-one documents were reviewed and analysed. Novel insights into the provisions of care and support for older people with vision impairment were presented through seven interconnected components: Developing condition literacy, acceptance of the condition and readiness for help, timeliness, access to services, relationships, positive care trajectory and professional knowledge. All contributed to the development of the Programme Theory. The Programme Theory explained why and for whom the services worked, while limited information was found in terms of how and when the services were accessed. The key components identified around the Programme Theory were complex and interconnected in nature, underscoring the importance of a systems approach to effective service provision for older adults with vision impairment. Literature gaps were identified for further exploration in a Realist evaluation. Journal Article Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics 0 Springer Nature 1475-1313 Aged; Eye; Public health; Realist synthesis; Social support; Vision loss; Visual impairment 11 6 2026 2026-06-11 10.1007/s44402-026-00125-0 COLLEGE NANME Health and Social Care School COLLEGE CODE HSOC Swansea University Another institution paid the OA fee The study was funded by Health and Care Research Wales (SCG-21-1829). Additionally, JA, BR, PA, BM, MD, MJ, RN and CW are supported by Health and Care Research Wales Infrastructure funding for the Centre for Vision Services Research. 2026-06-26T13:24:45.5950608 2026-06-26T12:33:44.1196847 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Health and Social Care - Public Health Anju Vaidya 0000-0002-5631-1794 1 Mark Davies 0000-0001-9315-9130 2 Carolyn Wallace 0000-0002-3799-5748 3 Pippa Anderson 0000-0003-2959-2671 4 Mari Jones 0000-0001-9661-4899 5 Bablin Molik 6 Rachel V North 0000-0002-6657-5099 7 Barbara Ryan 0000-0003-3722-8757 8 Fiona Verity 0000-0002-7354-4397 9 Jennifer H Acton 0000-0002-0347-7651 10 72173__37060__d69096cf0ab7421aaa2f993e842ffafe.pdf 72173.VOR.pdf 2026-06-26T12:38:33.2162558 Output 1968053 application/pdf Version of Record true © The Author(s) 2026. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title	Support for Older People With Vision Impairment: A Rapid Realist Review
spellingShingle	Support for Older People With Vision Impairment: A Rapid Realist Review Pippa Anderson Mari Jones
title_short	Support for Older People With Vision Impairment: A Rapid Realist Review
title_full	Support for Older People With Vision Impairment: A Rapid Realist Review
title_fullStr	Support for Older People With Vision Impairment: A Rapid Realist Review
title_full_unstemmed	Support for Older People With Vision Impairment: A Rapid Realist Review
title_sort	Support for Older People With Vision Impairment: A Rapid Realist Review
author_id_str_mv	128cdedfba6e5e6374fdc85d5c78c428 8e326860810f5f960b088db10ef58906
author_id_fullname_str_mv	128cdedfba6e5e6374fdc85d5c78c428_*_Pippa Anderson 8e326860810f5f960b088db10ef58906_*_Mari Jones
author	Pippa Anderson Mari Jones
author2	Anju Vaidya Mark Davies Carolyn Wallace Pippa Anderson Mari Jones Bablin Molik Rachel V North Barbara Ryan Fiona Verity Jennifer H Acton
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publishDate	2026
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description	Vision impairment among older adults is a significant public health issue impacting their physical and mental health and overall quality of life. However, access and navigation of support services are inconsistent and lacking. Recognising the need to gain insight to improve access to services in this population, this review aimed to understand how, why, for whom, to what extent and in what context the provisions for care and support for older people with vision impairment worked. A rapid Realist review was undertaken. Six databases (Cinahl, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Social Services Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts and Sociology Collection) were searched. The review followed the RAMESES Quality Standards for Realist Synthesis and retrieved documents were screened systematically to identify relevant papers. The papers were analysed through iterative and simultaneous use of coding, consolidating and conceptual mapping process to develop a Realist programme theory. Project Advisory Group members contributed to the processes. The Realist review was conducted from July 2023 to July 2024. Ninety-one documents were reviewed and analysed. Novel insights into the provisions of care and support for older people with vision impairment were presented through seven interconnected components: Developing condition literacy, acceptance of the condition and readiness for help, timeliness, access to services, relationships, positive care trajectory and professional knowledge. All contributed to the development of the Programme Theory. The Programme Theory explained why and for whom the services worked, while limited information was found in terms of how and when the services were accessed. The key components identified around the Programme Theory were complex and interconnected in nature, underscoring the importance of a systems approach to effective service provision for older adults with vision impairment. Literature gaps were identified for further exploration in a Realist evaluation.
published_date	2026-06-11T06:26:29Z
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Support for Older People With Vision Impairment: A Rapid Realist Review

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