Table 7. Impact of reduced face perception on social life, confidence, and quality of life; plus lack of understanding by other people.
| % of patients reporting experience or responding ‘yes’ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description of Experience | Mild (n = 8) |
Moderate (n = 8) |
Severe (n = 5) |
Total (N = 21) |
| Social life: missing out and withdrawal | ||||
| - Missing out (e.g., can't join in with the jokes; didn't realise my old friend was at the funeral) |
63+ | 75+ | 100 | 76+ |
| - I disengage/isolate/withdraw in social situations | 63+ | 38+ | 100 | 62+ |
| - I am less willing to have social interactions due to my reduced face perception |
63 | 25 | 60 | 48 |
| Face-specific effects on reduced confidence, quality of life | ||||
| - Problems seeing faces has reduced my confidence | 75 | 38 | 80 | 62 |
| - Problems seeing faces has reduced my quality of life | 75 | 63 | 100 | 76 |
| Other people don't understand | ||||
| - Other people don't understand how AMD impacts my vision | 75+ | 50+ | 80+ | 76+ |
| - I worry other people think I'm faking it | 50+ | 25+ | 40+ | 38+ |