Introduction: The determinant factors that influence self-reported quality of vision have yet to be fully elucidated. This study evaluated a range of contextual information, established psychophysical tests, and in particular, a series of cognitive tests as potentially determinant factors. Materials & Methods: Community dwelling adults (aged 50+) recruited to Wave 1 of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, excluding those registered blind, participated in this study (N=5021). Self-reports of vision were analysed in relation to visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, ocular pathology, visual (Choice Response Time task; Trail Making Test) and global cognition. Contextual factors such as having visited an optometrist and wearing glasses were also considered. Ordinal logistic regression was used to determine univariate and multivariate associations. Results and Discussion: Visual acuity (Odds ratio (OR) =1.71), ocular pathology (cataract, OR=1.78; glaucoma, OR=2.43; ARMD, OR=3.48; other pathologies, OR=2.83), lack of correction (glasses, OR=1.34), poor visual cognition (Trail Making Test, OR= 1.35) were determinant factors for poor versus excellent vision in self-reports. Education, wealth, age, depressive symptoms and general cognitive fitness also contributed to determining self-reported vision. Conclusions: Ocular pathology underlies the presence of visual deficits that are not fully captured by the acuity test. Poor visual search and visual attention skills capture the functional use of vision linked to higher level visual processing. Age, education and wealth, as well as mental health also bias responses. A careful examination of the respective contribution of such factors should be considered when using self-reports to asses vision and its role in cognitive and functional health.