Virtual Health Education vs Meditation in Irreversible Age-Related Vision Loss Patients and Their Caregivers

Inclusion Criteria

• •1. Patients diagnosed with irreversible age-related vision loss (IARVL) by an experienced ophthalmologist and/or their caregivers.
• •2. IARVL patients between the age range of 60 to 85 years, while caregivers between the age range of 18 to 85 years.
• •3. Be able to provide valid informed consent to participate in the research study.
• •4. Being able to speak as well as understand English without the requirement for interpretation or other communication assistance.
• •5. Having no significant self-reported or a physician-diagnosed mental health disorder other than depressive and/or anxiety symptoms.
• •6. Should reach a minimal threshold of depressive and/or anxiety symptoms as confirmed by either a minimum of Centre for Epidemiologic Studies - Depression (CES-D) 20-item scale score of 16 OR a minimum of 8 on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Anxiety subscale (HADS-A).
• •7. Have sufficient hearing to be able to follow verbal instructions
• •8. Have the ability to sit independently without physical discomfort for 30 minutes.
• •9. Willing and able to attend virtual intervention via Cisco WebEx software, the four initial training sessions of SSM or HEP and at least 6 out of 11 weekly follow-up sessions.
• •10. Willing to dedicate 20 minutes twice per day six days per week to their assigned home practice.