Subjective Wellbeing, Work Performance and Lived Experience of Zanzibari Women Entrepreneurs with Uncorrected Functional Presbyopia: A Pre-Post Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract

Purpose: Uncorrected presbyopia has been shown to reduce Zanzibari women’s quality of life. In this mixed-methods study, we examined the subjective wellbeing and self-reported work performance among older women entrepreneurs with functional presbyopia before and shortly after correction, and how poor vision at close distance affected their daily lives. Methods: Women entrepreneurs underwent eye examination to identify those with uncorrected functional presbyopia. Their subjective wellbeing and work performance were both measured in Cantril’s ladder. Ready-made glasses were then provided and 30 minutes to an hour later, their subjective wellbeing and work performance was remeasured. Twenty women entrepreneurs were interviewed to understand their lived experience with uncorrected presbyopia. Results: Two-hundred-seventeen women entrepreneurs were included in the survey (mean age 51.6 years, SD 8.64). Women entrepreneurs had a mean subjective wellbeing score of 3.32 (SD 1.10) pre-correction and 5.99 (SD 1.13) post-correction (p < 5, respectively. Around 1/4 of women entrepreneurs reported having severe difficulties with near tasks. Conclusion: Poor vision at a close distance caused by uncorrected functional presbyopia negatively affected economic, physical and psychosocial aspects of women entrepreneurs’ lives. Subjective wellbeing and self-reported work productivity scores improved significantly shortly after presbyopia was corrected. More research with longer follow-up is needed to understand the full benefits of correcting presbyopia.