A Scoping Review of the Evaluation of Programs for Adults with Visual Impairment

Programs for adults with visual impairment are diverse; however, the methods used to evaluate them have not been systematically mapped. We conducted a scoping review following Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and the PRISMA-ScR guideline. We searched peer-reviewed, English-language articles in PsycINFO, ERIC, PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection, with an original search on 1 October 2025 and an updated search on 1 May 2026. Two independent reviewers screened records in EPPI-Reviewer; disagreements were resolved through discussion. A total of 56 studies published between 1989 and 2024 were included. Most studies relied on summative pre-post assessment. Only two studies incorporated formative evaluation, and none used a logic model or an explicit theoretical framework. Sixteen studies included follow-up assessments, with limited variation in timing and frequency. Studies used both generic and vision-specific standardized instruments; however, vision-specific tools appeared in only three of five outcome domains. Accessibility accommodations were common, most often involving item read-aloud, with proxy reporting used in a small subset. Only four studies addressed the potential measurement bias associated with these accommodations. These findings highlight gaps in evaluation design, indicator selection, and the balance between accessibility and measurement validity, identifying priorities for future research.