Hope in working-age adults with irreversible vision loss: a scoping review

Duarte, Cátia Isabel Marranita dos Santos; Bicho, Ana Isabel Batalha; Bento, Mónica Figueiredo da Silva; Figueiredo, Amélia Simões; Resende, Ana

doi:10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2026-0181en

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REVIEW • Rev. esc. enferm. USP 60 • 2026 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2026-0181en linkcopy

Hope in working-age adults with irreversible vision loss: a scoping review

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Objective To map existing scientific evidence on hope in working-age adults facing irreversible vision loss by identifying concepts, approaches, and gaps in the literature.

Method: A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines using international databases and grey literature, covering studies published between 2000 and 2025. The identified studies underwent a process of identification, selection, data extraction, and thematic synthesis by two independent reviewers, with the support of NVivo® software.

Results: Of the 261 studies identified through the literature search, six met the inclusion criteria. Analysis of the included studies allowed the identification of four main topics: (1) Concept and sources of hope; (2) Hope as a coping mechanism; (3) Psychosocial adjustment; and (4) Implications for clinical practice. Hope emerged as a multidimensional and dynamic phenomenon, with a direct impact on adaptation, quality of life, and the meaning attributed to the experience of vision loss.

Conclusion: Hope plays a fundamental role in the adaptation process to vision loss among working-age adults, with important implications for the development of person-centered nursing practices. Further research in this field will contribute to strengthening the theoretical knowledge of nursing science and guiding clinical interventions aimed at promoting hope.

DESCRIPTORS
Adult; Blindness; Nursing; Hope; Coping Skills

Article title	Authors/year	Origin country	Method	Population	Objective	Mais results
Disability Self-Worth and Positive Personal Meaning in Disability: Correlates of Hope Among U.S. Residents With Physical Disabilities(⁷)	Zapata MA (2022)	USA	Cross-sectional quantitative	Adults with physical and sensory disabilities	Analyze the relationship between disability identity, personal meaning, selfesteem, and hope.	Personal self-worth and the positive meaning attributed to disability were significantly associated with higher levels of hope.
Hope and Social Support in Adults Who Are Legally Blind at a Training Center(⁸)	Singletary C, Goodwyn MA, Carter AP (2009)	USA	Cross-sectional correlational quantitative	Legally blind adults attending a rehabilitation center	Examine the relationship between hope and social support.	Hope was positively associated with perceived social support, including support from friends, family, and significant others.
Impact of Low Vision on Well-Being in 10 European Countries(¹²)	Mojon-Azzi SM, Sousa-Poza A, Mojon DS (2008)	Ten European countries	Observational quantitative	Individuals aged ≥50 years	Analyze the association between low vision and wellbeing.	Low vision was associated with poorer emotional well-being, lower hope for the future, sadness, fatigue, irritability, and difficulties with concentration.
Information Gives Hope(¹⁰)	Lesselroth M (2019)	USA	Narrative/ reflective report	Adult with glaucoma	Describe the experience of receiving the diagnosis and the role of information.	Clear information, accessible resources, and peer support promoted hope, a sense of control, and adaptation to the diagnosis.
Seeing Beyond Anatomy: Quality of Life with Geographic Atrophy(⁹)	Caswell D, Caswell W, Carlton J (2021)	Canada/ United Kingdom	Qualitative study incorporating the perspectives of patients and caregivers	Individual with geographic atrophy and an informal caregiver	Explore the impact of geographic atrophy on quality of life.	Vision loss affected autonomy, hobbies, social relationships, and quality of life. In this context, information, support, and assistive technologies emerged as important resources.
Experiencing Motherhood as a Blind Mother in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana; a Qualitative Study(³)	Acheampong AK, Marfo M, Aziato L (2022)	Ghana	Exploratory descriptive qualitative	Nineteen blind mothers	Explore the experience of motherhood among blind women.	Difficulties related to the maternal role, discrimination, psychological distress, and coping strategies centered on prayer, self-motivation, and hope in their children emerged.

Main topics	Topic and subtopics	Literal excerpts (en)
1. – Concept and sources of hope	1 – Concept and sources of hope	“Hope is a process of thinking about one’s goals...”(⁷) “Cognitive motivational system involving both goal-directed motivation and consideration of means to achieve goals.”(⁷) “Hope has been associated with various positive psychological, physical health, and academic outcomes.”(⁷) “Self-worth and personal meaning predicted higher hope.”(⁷) “Hope is a process of thinking about one’s goals that involves: (a) the motivation to move toward those goals(agency); and (b) the consideration of means to achieve those goals.”(⁷) “Knowing about the current evidence... helps patients stay positive.”(¹⁰)
	1.1 – Factors promoting hope	“High levels of hope were tied to strong support networks.”(⁸) “The length of time spent at training centers would be associated with levels of self-esteem and hope.”(⁸) “Positive relationships that were found between hope and perceived social support.”(⁸) “Magnifying devices can reduce the degree of handicap.” (⁸) “Prayer was done in such a way that, they could talk to God at different times.”(³) “It would have helped to have a list of resources to take home after the diagnosis.”(¹⁰) “Having access to information (...) and knowing what developments are being worked on gives me hope and peace of mind.”(¹⁰)
	1.2 – Factors hindering hope	“Patients lack information around their expected prognosis...”(⁹)
2. – Hope as a coping mechanism	2.1 – Active or proactive coping	“I took matters into my own hands... started my own support group.”(¹⁰)
	2.2 – Emotion-focused or spiritual coping	“Prayer was the safe haven...”(³) “Participants (...) coped with their challenges with prayer, hope in their children and self-motivation.”(³) “I hope I’m at the plateau of visual loss, but I don’t know.”(⁹)
	2.3 – Relationship with personal identity	“Hope has been positively associated with self-esteem...”(⁷)
	2.4 – Resilience and self-efficacy	“Developing strength in adversity...”(⁷) “The long-term blindness of these individuals may have bolstered their self-acceptance and adjustment to blindness.”(⁸)
3. – Psychosocial adjustment	3.1 – Social and interpersonal support	“Hope was tied to strong social support networks...”(⁸) “Their children were their source of hope...”(³)
	3.2 – Quality of life and well-being	“Persons with low vision... more likely to wish for death.”(⁹)
	3.3 – Psychological outcomes	“Identifying and encouraging development of strengths...”(⁷)
4. – Implications and gaps for practice	4.1 – Intervention suggestions for practice	“Let patients know there is hope... make them aware of resources.”(¹⁰) “Make patients aware of the resources available to them, including online support groups.”(¹⁰) “Knowing about the current evidence on disease progression and sharing it with patients can help them stay positive.”(¹⁰)
4. – Implications and gaps for practice	4.2 – Gaps in the literature	“Research has yet to explore disability self-worth...”(⁷)

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[1] Legend: USA – United States of America.