Impact of visual impairment on work participation from the perspectives of patients and professionals: a concept mapping study

Richard Daniëls; Jan L Hoving; Alessio Barras; Nicolas Ruffieux; Ruth M van Nispen

doi:10.1080/09638288.2025.2541406

Impact of visual impairment on work participation from the perspectives of patients and professionals: a concept mapping study

Disabil Rehabil. 2025 Aug 8:1-18. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2025.2541406. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Richard Daniëls^{1

2

3

4}, Jan L Hoving², Alessio Barras⁵, Nicolas Ruffieux⁵, Ruth M van Nispen^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Ophthalmology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
² Department of Public and Occupational Health, and Research Center for Insurance Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
³ Dutch Social Security Agency (UWV), Social Medical Department, the Netherlands.
⁴ Amsterdam Public Health, Quality of Care, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
⁵ Département de pédagogie spécialisée, Université de Fribourg, Fribourg, Suisse.

PMID: 40778629
DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2025.2541406

Abstract

Purpose: Visual impairments (VI) substantially impact work participation, with persistently low employment rates despite re-integration programs and supportive legislation. This study explored factors influencing work participation among persons with VI.

Method: Using concept mapping and purposive sampling, we gathered insights impacting work participation from patients with VI and professionals. These key stakeholders initially identified items (76 VI patients and 25 professionals), which were subsequently rated for importance and categorized into conceptually common themes (61 VI patients and 47 professionals).

Results: The final concept map comprised 105 distinct vision-related items, grouped into 9 thematic clusters ranked by importance: personal competences and self-awareness; conditions for workplace adjustments; mobility/commuting and ICT; support and awareness working environment; organizations, regulations and expertise; personal development and social environment/network; professional support for work; physical workplace; task performance. Importance scores ranged from 3.6 to 4.3 on 5-point scale, indicating overall relevance. Differences emerged based on participant type, VI severity, and nationality.

Conclusions: This study provides a consensus-based framework identifying key factors essential for understanding work participation in individuals with VI. Findings highlight the need for multi-level strategies, addressing individual, organizational and societal factors, to enhance sustainable employment through improved interventions, validated assessment tools, policies, and workplace adaptations.

Keywords: Blindness; adults; concept mapping; low vision; occupational medicine; rehabilitation; stakeholder perspective; visual impairment; work.

Plain language summary

Having a visual impairment (VI) affects multiple life domains, particularly work participation, which remains low despite reintegration programs and supportive legislation.Using concept mapping has provided a consensus-based framework identifying key factors and themes essential for understanding work participation affected by VI.Addressing individual, organizational, and societal domains through multi-level strategies should further improve employment outcomes for persons with VI.