A patient perspective of supporting mental wellbeing in ophthalmology through five stages of sight loss

Mhairi Thurston

doi:10.1177/02646196241267959

A patient perspective of supporting mental wellbeing in ophthalmology through five stages of sight loss

Mhairi Thurston^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Health, Sport and Wellbeing

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

In this autoethnography, the experience of being a patient in an ophthalmology clinic is explored, within the context of the Five Stages of Sight Loss Model. The author describes her lived experience of diagnosis and critically examines her experience of receiving treatment and care within an ophthalmology clinic. The literature focusing on supporting patient mental wellbeing in an ophthalmology clinic is considered, and a patient perspective on improving support for mental wellbeing is proposed. Consistent care, clinical skills, the interpersonal skills of the ophthalmologist, and shared decision-making with patients emerge as important factors. The concept of ‘embedded counselling’ is considered.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	821-836
Number of pages	16
Journal	British Journal of Visual Impairment
Volume	43
Issue number	3
Early online date	6 Aug 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/02646196241267959
Publication status	Published - 1 Sept 2025

Keywords

Autoethnography
Embedded counselling
Five stages of sight loss
Ophthalmology clinic
Patient mental wellbeing
Shared decision-making
Vision impairment

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Thurston_APatientPerspectiveOfSupportingMentalWellbeing_Published_2025Final published version, 193 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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A patient perspective of supporting mental wellbeing in ophthalmology through five stages of sight loss

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