Related Articles

Background

To examine the associations between vision-targeted health-related quality of life (VT-HRQ) and ocular surface parameters in patients with Sjögren's syndrome, a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by dry eye and dry mouth.

Methods

Forty-two patients fulfilling European / American diagnostic criteria for Sjögren's syndrome underwent Schirmer testing without anesthesia, ocular surface vital dye staining; and measurement of tear film breakup time (TBUT). Subjects were administered the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and the 25-item National Eye Institute Vision Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ). Main outcome measures included ocular surface parameters, OSDI subscales describing ocular discomfort (OSDI-symptoms), vision-related function (OSDI-function), and environmental triggers, and NEI-VFQ subscales.

Results

Participants (aged 31–81 y; 95% female) all had moderate to severe dry eye. Associations of OSDI subscales with the ocular parameters were modest (Spearman r (ρ) < 0.22) and not statistically significant. Associations of NEI-VFQ subscales with the ocular parameters reached borderline significance for the near vision subscale with TBUT (ρ = 0.32, p = .05) and for the distance vision subscale with van Bijsterveld score (ρ = 0.33, p = .04). The strongest associations of the two questionnaires were for: ocular pain and mental function with OSDI-symptoms (ρ = 0.60 and 0.45, respectively); and general vision, ocular pain, mental function, role function, and driving with OSDI-function (ρ = 0.60, 0.50, 0.61, 0.64, 0.57, and 0.67, respectively).

Conclusions

Associations between conventional objective measures of dry eye and VT-HRQ were modest. The generic NEI-VFQ was similar to the disease-specific OSDI in its ability to measure the impact of Sjögren's syndrome-related dry eye on VT-HRQ.

Objectives

To describe the vision-targeted, health-related quality of life, measured with the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ), in patients with age-related macular degeneration, cataract, or reduced visual acuity; to determine the relationship between the NEI-VFQ subscale scores and clinical measures of visual function; and to assess the internal consistency and reliability of the NEI-VFQ subscales.

Design

The 39-item NEI-VFQ was administered at the 5-year clinic visit to 4077 Age-Related Eye Disease Study participants.

Results

The subscales of the NEI-VFQ had moderate to high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.58–0.91). The NEI-VFQ scores for participants with advanced age-related macular degeneration in 1 or both eyes, severe nuclear opacity, reduced visual acuity, or cataract surgery generally were lower than scores for disease-free participants (P<.001).

Conclusion

These findings support the use of the NEI-VFQ as a measure of vision-targeted, health-related quality of life among patients with age-related macular degeneration, cataract, or reduced visual acuity.

Purpose

To test the reliability and validity of questionnaires shortened from the National Eye Institute 25-item Vision Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-9 and NEI VFQ-8).

Design

A cross-sectional multi-center cohort study.

Methods

Reliability was assessed by Cronbach alpha coefficients. Validity was evaluated by studying the association of vision-targeted quality-of-life composite scores with objective visual function measurements. Study population: A total of 5,482 women between the ages of 65 and 100 years participated in the Year-10 clinic visit in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF). A total of 3,631 women with complete data were included in the visual acuity (VA) and visual field (VF) analysis of the NEI VFQ-9, which is defined for those who care to drive. and 5,311 in the analysis of the NEI VFQ-8. To assess differences in prevalent eye diseases, which were ascertained for a random sample of SOF participants, 853 and 1,237 women were included in the NEI VFQ-9 and the NEI VFQ-8 analyses, respectively.

Results

Cronbach alpha coefficient for the NEI VFQ-9 scale was 0.83 and that of the NEI VFQ-8 was 0.84. Using both questionnaires, women with VA worse than 20/40 had lower composite scores compared to those with VA 20/40 or better (p<0.001). Participants with mild, moderate, and severe binocular VF loss had lower composite scores compared to those with no binocular VF loss (p<0.001).Compared to women without chronic eye diseases in both eyes, women with at least one chronic eye disease in at least one eye had lower composite scores.

Conclusions

Both questionnaires showed high reliability across items and validity with respect to clinical markers of eye disease Future research should compare the properties of these shortened surveys to those of the NEI VFQ-25.

Purpose

To describe vision-targeted health-related quality of life (HR-QOL), measured with the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) in a cohort of patients with macular telangiectasia (MacTel) type 2 and to evaluate the relationship between visual acuity and NEI-VFQ-25 scores.

Methods

This was an analysis of cross-sectional baseline data from a longitudinal natural history study. Patients with MacTel type 2 were enrolled in the Natural History Study of The Macular Telangiectasia Project (The MacTel Project). NEI-VFQ-25 were completed at enrollment. Linear correlation and regression analyses were used to relate baseline NEI-VFQ-25 overall and subscale scores to visual acuity.

Results

Participants reported lower vision-related functioning measured by the NEI-VFQ-25 in most of the domains measured by the NEI VFQ compared with that of a normal reference group (P < 0.001 for all domains except color vision). Visual acuity was found to be associated with the NEI-VFQ-25 in many of the domains measuring degree of difficulty with common visual activities.

Conclusions

This is the first cross-sectional cohort study to assess vision targeted HR-QOL in patients with MacTel type 2. Patients with MacTel type 2 reported markedly reduced visual functioning compared to reports of a normal reference group. These findings provide support to the use of the NEI-VFQ-25 in patients with MacTel type 2 to measure the effect of disease and potential therapies on vision-targeted HR-QOL.

Purpose

To assess vision-specific quality of life (QOL), based on abbreviated surveys derived from the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ), in a cohort of US women who participated in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF).

Design

Prospective, observational cohort study

Methods

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) status, based on a three level classification (no AMD, early AMD, late AMD), and vision-specific QOL, based on abbreviated NEI-VFQ surveys were calculated for 1,674 women enrolled in the SOF at 4 centers within the US, who had gradable fundus photographs at both the 10-year and 15-year follow-up visits. The associations among 5-year changes in NEI-VFQ composite scores, change in AMD status, and distance visual acuity were examined.

Results

Compared to study participants without AMD at both visits, study participants with late AMD at both visits and those that progressed from early AMD to late AMD demonstrated the greatest declines in adjusted NEI-VFQ composite scores, up to a mean decrease of 16.2 out of a scale of 100. Visual acuity declines were also most prominent for patients with late AMD at both visits and for those that progressed from early AMD to late AMD. Change in visual acuity was found to correlate significantly with change in vision-specific QOL.

Conclusions

The abbreviated NEI-VFQ surveys provide reliable assessments of vision-specific QOL in AMD patients. The decline in vision-specific QOL associated with the progression of AMD is clinically meaningful.

Background

The National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ) measures vision-targeted quality of life, but it is unclear whether it is sensitive to changes within individuals over time.

Objective

To determine the responsiveness of the NEI-VFQ to “within-individual” changes in visual acuity in patients who had subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in at least one eye secondary to age-related macular degeneration, ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, or idiopathic causes, and who participated in randomized trials of submacular surgery.

Methods

Trained telephone interviewers administered the NEI-VFQ as part of annual follow-up data collection for pilot trials and larger clinical trials of sub-macular surgery. Best-corrected visual acuity was measured by local vision examiners at 12 months after enrollment and, typically, by central “traveling” vision examiners at 24 months after enrollment. Changes in visual acuity and NEI-VFQ scores from 12 to 24 months were analyzed using linear regression methods.

Results

Two-hundred eighteen patients had both interviews and visual acuity measurements at 12 and 24 months after enrollment. Changes in the overall NEI-VFQ score and in 9 of the subscales (near activities, dependency, driving, role difficulties, distance activities, mental health, general vision, peripheral vision, and social functioning) were related to changes in visual acuity of the better-seeing eye based on linear regression analysis (P<.05). In our analysis, a 3-line decrease in the visual acuity of the better-seeing eye was associated with 3.6-to 16.2-point decreases in the overall NEI-VFQ score and 9 subscale scores.

Conclusions

Most of the NEI-VFQ subscales were responsive to changes in the visual acuity of the better-seeing eye over a 12-month interval in this patient population. Thus, the NEI-VFQ can be used to measure change in vision-targeted quality of life over time to augment clinical measurements of visual acuity.

Purpose:

To assess vision-related quality-of-life subscales with objective measurements of visual function in patients affected with retinitis pigmentosa of Bothnia type (BD).

Methods:

Forty-nine patients answered the NEI-VFQ-25 questionnaire. High- and low-contrast distance acuity (VA), near VA, and visual fields (VF) were measured. Weighted VA (WVA) and low-contrast (10%) VA (WLCVA), binocular VF areas, and central scotoma were calculated. Adjusted mean subscale scores were calculated and associations analyzed.

Results:

Subscale scores for general, far, and near vision, social functioning, and color vision were lowest while general health, ocular pain, and mental health were highest in the BD phenotype. The correlations were substantial and similar for WVA, WLCVA, and near vision. The degree of measured VF impairment had few associations with the different adjusted subscale scores.

Conclusion:

The NEI VFQ-25 subscales were well associated with clinical vision measures depending on VA. The progression of VF defects typical for the BD phenotype does not seem to affect the self-perceived quality of life, which might indicate adaptability to this type of progressive VF loss. The BD phenotype has a significant impact on multiple domains of daily life, but there are no signs of accelerating depression related to the increasing visual impairment.

Background

Local tolerance of topical glaucoma treatment is important to achieve a good compliance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the consequences of local anti-glaucoma drug side effects on the vision-related quality of life (QoL).

Methods

A mail survey was sent to 20,000 homes of a panel representative of the French population asking whether one member of the family was suffering from ocular hypertension (OHT) or glaucoma. (POAG) A computer-assisted telephone interviewing system was used to confirm self-reported glaucoma, to describe the disease and its treatment, and medical item consumption. Vision-related QoL was assessed with the NEI-VFQ-25 (National Eye Institute Visual – Function Questionnaire) and local tolerance with the COMTOL (Comparison of Ophthalmic Medications for TOLerability).

Results

13,352 homes (66.7%) answered the mail. 581 people declared they were suffering from glaucoma or OHT. Prevalence was 1.8%, increasing with age. 204 patients were selected at random Their NEI-VFQ-25 global score showed an overall good QoL. Two domain scores showed some deterioration: general health and driving. 62.4% of the patients cited at least one local side effect. 25.4% had burning, 20.8% blurred vision and 20.2% tearing. Poor vision related QoL was associated with the presence of local side effects leading to poor perceived treatment satisfaction. Dissatisfied patients visited their ophthalmologist more frequently.

Conclusion

Based on a representative French sample, poor vision related QoL was associated with topical drug side effects that also impact patient satisfaction and compliance. Longitudinal data collection should be performed to confirm our findings.

Purpose

To compare two vision-specific functional status measures to each other and to clinical parameters in the Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study (CIGTS).

Methods

CIGTS participants completed the Visual Activities Questionnaire (VAQ) and the National Eye Institute-Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ) and were tested for visual field (VF) and visual acuity (VA). 426 subjects contributed VAQ and NEI-VFQ scores at 54 months. Pearson correlations were used to assess associations.

Results

The VAQ subscales (range 0–100) that assessed light-dark adaptation (mean=66.1), glare disability (66.4), and acuity/spatial vision (67.7) indicated vision-related functions that CIGTS participants found most difficult. On the NEI-VFQ, subjects reported high levels of visual functioning, with mean ≥90 (out of 100) on the total score and in 9 of 12 subscales. General vision (mean=82.6) received the lowest subscale score. Two subscales common to both questionnaires were highly correlated: VA (r=0.68) and peripheral vision (r=0.77) (both p<.0001). Correlations between participants’ perceptions and clinical measures of visual function were in the expected direction, but weaker. Stronger associations were found between clinical measures and the NEI-VFQ than the VAQ. Better eye VF and worse eye VA had the highest number of significant correlations with subjects’ perceptions of their visual function. Increasing VF loss was associated with a significant decrease in the overall and peripheral vision subscale scores from both questionnaires, as well as several other subscales.

Conclusions

These findings will help researchers interested in assessing patients’ perceptions of their visual function make an informed selection when choosing between the VAQ and the NEI-VFQ.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To determine the relation between visual impairment, visual functioning, and the global quality of life in patients with glaucoma. METHODS: Visual impairment, defined with the American Medical Association Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment; visual functioning, measured with the VF-14 and the Field Test Version of the National Eye Institute-Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ); and the global quality of life, assessed with the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), were determined in 147 consecutive patients with glaucoma. RESULTS: None of the SF-36 domains demonstrated more than a weak correlation with visual impairment. The VF-14 scores were moderately correlated with visual impairment. Of the twelve NEI-VFQ scales, distance activities and vision specific dependency were moderately correlated with visual impairment. Of the twelve NEI-VFQ scales, distance activities and vision specific dependency were moderately correlated with visual field impairment; vision specific social functioning, near activities, vision specific role difficulties, general vision, vision specific mental health, color vision, and driving were modestly correlated; visual pain was weakly correlated; and two were not significantly correlated. Correcting for visual actuity weakened the strength of the correlation coefficients. CONCLUSIONS: The SF-36 is unlikely to be useful in determining visual impairment in patients with glaucoma. Based on the moderate correlation between visual field impairment and the VF-14 score, this questionnaire may be generalizable to patients with glaucoma. Several of the NEI-VFQ scales correlate with visual field impairment scores in patients with a wide range of glaucomatous damage.

Among uveitis patients, the vision-related function score correlated positively with visual acuity and correlated moderately positively with general quality-of-life measures.

Purpose.

To evaluate the associations between visual acuity and self-reported visual function; visual acuity and health-related quality of life (QoL) metrics; a summary measure of self-reported visual function and health-related QoL; and individual domains of self-reported visual function and health-related QoL in patients with uveitis.

Methods.

Best-corrected visual acuity, vision-related functioning as assessed by the NEI VFQ-25, and health-related QoL as assessed by the SF-36 and EuroQoL EQ-5D questionnaires were obtained at enrollment in a clinical trial of uveitis treatments. Multivariate regression and Spearman correlations were used to evaluate associations between visual acuity, vision-related function, and health-related QoL.

Results.

Among the 255 patients, median visual acuity in the better-seeing eyes was 20/25, the vision-related function score indicated impairment (median, 60), and health-related QoL scores were within the normal population range. Better visual acuity was predictive of higher visual function scores (P ≤ 0.001), a higher SF-36 physical component score, and a higher EQ-5D health utility score (P < 0.001). The vision-specific function score was predictive of all general health-related QoL (P < 0.001). The correlations between visual function score and general quality of life measures were moderate (ρ = 0.29–0.52).

Conclusions.

The vision-related function score correlated positively with visual acuity and moderately positively with general QoL measures. Cost–utility analyses relying on changes in generic healthy utility measures will be more likely to detect changes when there are clinically meaningful changes in vision-related function, rather than when there are only changes in visual acuity. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00132691.)

Purpose

To determine the change in vision-related quality of life scores after providing eyeglasses to American Indian/Alaska Natives with under-corrected refractive error.

Study Design

Prospective, comparative (non-randomized) interventional study

Methods

We compared a group with under-corrected refractive error to a Control group who did not need a change in eyeglasses. Under-corrected refractive error was defined as distance visual acuity 20/40 or worse in the better-seeing eye that could be improved by at least 2 lines in Snellen visual acuity. Intervention was the provision of new glasses to the under-corrected refractive error group members, based on results of manifest refraction. The main outcome measures were the differences in the 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) scores from baseline (T1) to the time after providing eyeglasses (T2).

Results

The NEI-VFQ-25 median composite score at T1 was significantly lower in those with under-corrected refractive error when compared to the Control group (75 vs. 92, p=.001). The median composite score for the Under-corrected refractive error group improved to 96 (P<0.001) at T2 when compared to T1, while the Control group remained stable at 93 (p=0.417). The Under-corrected refractive error group showed significantly greater improvement than the Control group in 8 of 12 subscale scores and in the overall composite score (all p values ≤ 0.05). A multivariate linear regression analysis, which controlled for differences in age, percent self-identified American Indian/Alaskan Native and best-corrected visual acuity between the Under-corrected refractive error and Control group showed eyeglasses to be significantly associated with improvement in NEI-VFQ-25 composite score.

Conclusion

Visual impairment from under-corrected refractive error is common in American Indian/Alaskan Natives. Providing eyeglasses results in a large, significant increase in vision-related quality of life.

Objective

To assess the impact of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and its severity on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a population-based sample of Latinos with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Design

Cross-sectional population-based study, the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study (LALES).

Participants

1,064 LALES participants with diabetes mellitus.

Methods

HRQOL was measured by the 25 item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) and the Medical Outcomes Study 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). DR was assessed by masked standardized grading of stereoscopic photographs from 7 standard fields. Severity of DR in eyes was graded using a modified Airlie House classification. The severity scores from each eye were then concatenated to create a single per person grade ranging from 1(no DR in either eye) to 15 (bilateral PDR). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the independent relationship between severity of DR and HRQOL after adjusting for covariates.

Main Outcome Measures

NEI-VFQ-25 and SF-12 scores.

Results

More severe DR was associated with worse HRQOL scores on all of the NEI VFQ-25 and SF-12 subscales (P<0.05). Individuals with DR from grade 2 (minimum NPDR) through grade 8 (unilateral moderate NPDR) show a modest decline in HRQOL. However, the decline become significantly steeper between steps 8 (unilateral moderate NPDR) and 9-15 (bilateral moderate NPDR to bilateral PDR). The domains with the most significant impact were for vision-related daily activities, dependency and mental health.

Conclusion

Greater severity of DR was associated with lower general and vision-specific HRQOL. Persons with bilateral moderate NPDR had the most substantial decrease in quality of life compared to those with less severe DR. The prevention of incident DR and more importantly its progression from unilateral to bilateral NPDR is likely to have a positive impact on a person’s HRQOL and should be considered an important goal in management of individuals with diabetes mellitus.

Purpose

To compare the differences in vision and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of individuals with ocular and non-ocular sarcoidosis; and to examine the impact of specific demographic and clinical factors on the noted differences.

Methods

A cross-sectional study using non-randomized prospective cohort was conducted at the National Eye Institute (protocol number: 06-EI-0239, NCT00379275) from August 31, 2006 until November 15, 2007. Each participant completed vision and HRQOL questionnaires, the Sarcoidosis Health Questionnaire (SHQ) and the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ), along with a demographic/environmental exposure survey. Clinical data were collected through an ophthalmic exam as part of the research protocol.

Results

The study enrolled 75 biopsy-proven and 20 clinically presumed sarcoidosis participants which were divided into two cohorts, ocular (N = 60) and non-ocular groups (N = 35). The ocular group had significantly lower (P < 0.01) total NEI-VFQ scores compared to the non-ocular group. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that participants with ocular sarcoidosis who had an annual household income of < $50,000 (P < 0.01) had significantly lower total SHQ scores while participants with ocular sarcoidosis whose visual acuity was 20/100 or worse had significantly lower total NEI-VFQ scores (P = 0.03).

Conclusions

Ocular involvement impacts both overall and vision-related quality of life among sarcoidosis patients. Lower economic status appears to have a significant impact on the quality of life of sarcoidosis patients. Assessment of visual function and general health status provide pertinent information for individuals with sarcoidosis and should be included in their care to assess burden of their disease on their quality of life.

Purpose

The Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus Study (CLEK) has previously shown that people with keratoconus report significantly impaired vision-related quality of life (V-QoL) as measured on the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ), similar to people who have severe macular degeneration. In this report we evaluate changes that occurred in V-QoL over 7 years of follow-up.

Design

Prospective cohort study of 1166 participants followed for 7 years.

Methods

We estimated change in quality of life by projecting the slope of a minimum of three reports on 11 scales of the NEI-VFQ. Correlation with clinical indicators was evaluated, and differences were assessed between those who had clinically significant changes in clinical factors and those who did not. Logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with a decline in 10 points or more in a scale score over 7 years.

Results

All scales showed modest decline except Ocular Pain and Mental Health. Baseline factors were not associated with longitudinal change in NEI-VFQ scores. A 10-letter decline in high-contrast binocular visual acuity and a 3.00 D increase in corneal curvature were associated with significantly larger declines in V-QoL. In multivariate analysis, these factors also were found to be associated with a 10-point decline in NEI-VFQ scale scores.

Conclusions

Keratoconus is associated with significantly impaired V-QoL that continues to decline over time. For a substantial plurality these declines are significant.

Background

The use of self-report questionnaires to substitute for visual acuity measurement has been limited. We examined the association between visual impairment and self reported visual function in a population sample of older people in the UK.

Methods

Cross sectional study of people aged more than 75 years who initially participated in a trial of health screening. The association between 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ) scores and visual impairment (defined as an acuity of less than 6/18 in the better eye) was examined using logistic regression.

Results

Visual acuity and NEI-VFQ scores were obtained from 1807 participants (aged 77 to 101 years, 36% male), from 20 general practices throughout the UK. After adjustment for age, gender, practice and NEI-VFQ sub-scale scores, those complaining of poor vision in general were 4.77 times (95% CI 3.03 to 7.53) more likely to be visually impaired compared to those who did not report difficulty. Self-reported limitations with social functioning and dependency on others due to poor vision were also associated with visual impairment (odds ratios, 2.52, 95% CI 1.55 to 4.11; 1.73, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.86 respectively). Those reporting difficulties with near vision and colour vision were more likely to be visually impaired (odds ratios, 2.32, 95% CI 1.30 to 4.15; 2.25, 95% CI 1.35 to 3.73 respectively). Other NEI-VFQ sub-scale scores were unrelated to measures of acuity. Similar but weaker odds ratios were found with reduced visual acuity (defined as less than 6/12 in the better eye). Although differences in NEI-VFQ scores were small, scores were strongly associated with visual acuity, binocular status, and difference in acuity between eyes.

Conclusion

NEI-VFQ questions regarding the quality of general vision, social functioning, visual dependency, near vision and colour vision are strongly and independently associated with an objective measure of visual impairment in an elderly population.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate different approaches to scoring the NEI VFQ-25 in patients with low vision including: scoring by the standard method, by Rasch analysis, and by use of an algorithm created by Massof to approximate Rasch person measure. Subscale validity and use of a seven-item short form instrument proposed by Ryan et al were also investigated.

Methods

NEI VFQ-25 data from 50 patients with low vision were analyzed using the standard method of summing Likert-type scores and calculating an overall average, Rasch analysis using Winsteps software, and the Massof algorithm in Excel. Correlations between scores were calculated. Rasch person separation reliability and other indicators were calculated to determine the validity of the subscales and of the seven-item instrument.

Results

Scores calculated using all three methods were highly correlated, but evidence of floor and ceiling effects was found with the standard scoring method. None of the subscales investigated proved valid. The seven-item instrument showed acceptable person separation reliability and good targeting and item performance.

Conclusions

Though standard scores and Rasch scores are highly correlated, Rasch analysis has the advantages of eliminating floor and ceiling effects and producing interval-scaled data. The Massof algorithm for approximation of the Rasch person measure performed well in this group of low vision patients. The validity of the subscales VFQ-25 should be reconsidered.

Purpose

To determine the relationship between the American Medical Association's (AMA) functional vision score (FVS) and vision-specific quality of life in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients using the National Eye Institute's Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ 25).

Methods

One hundred eight patients with RP participated in the study. We measured best-corrected visual acuity, conducted Goldmann perimetry, and collected the self-reported NEI-VFQ 25. The FVS was calculated using the functional field score (FFS) and the functional acuity score (FAS). The correlations of the VFQ composite scores to the FVS, FFS, and FAS were determined using correlation and regression analyses.

Results

FVS was highly correlated to the BCVA (r=0.69, p<0.001), the FFS (r=0.86, p<0.001) and the FAS (r=0.73, p<0.001). Significant correlations of the VFQ composite score to the BCVA (r=0.60, p<0.001), FFS (r=0.44, p<0.001), FAS (r=0.60, p<0.001), FVS (r=0.58, p<0.001) were also found. However, the correlation strengths of BCVA, FVS, FAS, and FFS to NEI-FVQ were not different.

Conclusions

In RP patients, the vision-specific quality of life was correlated with the AMA guidelines' FVS, FFS, and FAS. Their correlation degrees to NEI-FVQ were not different. This result suggests that vision-specific quality of life can be explained by both visual acuity and visual field in RP patients.

Purpose

To report the test-retest variability of the new Adult Strabismus 20 (AS-20) and the NEI VFQ-25 health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instruments in adults with strabismus.

Design

Prospective case series

Methods

55 adult patients in a clinical practice with stable strabismus completed the AS-20 and the NEI VFQ-25 at two visits, without intervening treatment. Questionnaires were completed the second time either at a subsequent office visit, immediately pre-operatively, or by mail. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated. 95% limits of agreement and 95% confidence intervals (CI) around the 95% limits of agreement were also calculated.

Results

There was excellent agreement of overall questionnaire scores for the AS-20 (ICC = 0.92) and NEI VFQ-25 (ICC = 0.94). 95% limits of agreement for overall scores were 14.3 points (CI 10.9 to 17.7) for the AS-20 and 11.1 points (CI 8.5 to 13.8) for the NEI VFQ-25. The lower test-retest variability of the VFQ-25 appeared to be partly due to ceiling effects with many scores at the normal end of the range.

Conclusions

The new AS-20 and the NEI VFQ-25 show excellent test-retest reliability in adults with strabismus. Change exceeding 95% limits of agreement (14 points on the AS-20 and 11 points on the VFQ-25) is indicative of real change in an individual patient. The AS-20 may be more useful than the VFQ-25 because it is less prone to ceiling effects in adults with strabismus.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of residential blind rehabilitation on patients’ vision targeted health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and general physical and mental function.

Methods

The National Eye Institute 25-item Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ) plus appendix questions, the 12 item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), Hope Scale and Coopersmith self-esteem inventory were administered to 206 legally blind veterans prior to their entering a residential (in-patient) blind rehabilitation program and again to 185 and 176 of the original cohort at two and six months after completion of the rehabilitation program, respectively. Data on visual acuity, visual field extent, contrast sensitivity and scanning ability were also collected. The duration of the in-patient rehabilitation programs ranged from 11–109 days. Questionnaire scores were compared pre-rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation.

Results

Following rehabilitation there was a significant improvement in nine of eleven NEI VFQ subscales and in a composite score at both 2- and 6-month post-rehab intervals. Mental health (SF-12) and self esteem also improved significantly although physical health ratings declined over the course of the study (approximately 10 months).

Conclusions

Residential blind rehabilitation appears to improve patients’ self-reported vision-targeted HRQOL, self-esteem, and mental health aspects of generic HRQOL.

Background/aims

Quantitative data regarding the impact of neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (NV‐AMD) on individuals and society is a prerequisite for rational decision‐making processes when evaluating alternative treatments for the disease.

Methods

75 bilateral NV‐AMD (patients) and 91 elderly non‐AMD (controls) subjects forming the UK cohort of an international cross‐sectional, observational study were independently analysed. Subjects completed a telephone survey including the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI‐VFQ‐25), the EuroQol (EQ‐5D), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), history of falls and health resource utilisation.

Results

Patients with NV‐AMD reported substantially worse vision‐related functioning and overall well‐being, including higher depression scores, than controls after adjusting for age, gender and co‐morbidities (adjusted mean scores: NEI‐VFQ‐25 overall 52.7 vs 90.7, p<0.0001; EQ‐5D 0.67 vs 0.77, p = 0.0273; HADS depression 6.8 vs 4.0, p = 0.0026). Significantly more patients reported a need for assistance with daily activities compared with controls (25.3% vs 6.6%, p = 0.003). Total annual healthcare utilisation costs were more than sevenfold higher for patients with AMD compared with controls (£3,823.89 vs £517.05, respectively; p<0.0001)

Conclusions

Patients with NV‐AMD show a significant decline in quality of life and increased need for daily living assistance compared to a control population without AMD. With the availability of effective new therapies there is a need for improved early access to treatment.

Purpose

To compare two health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaires in adults with strabismus: the new AS-20 (developed specifically for adult strabismus) and the NEI VFQ-25 (VFQ-25).

Design

Cross-sectional study

Methods

84 adult patients with strabismus (median age 53, range 18-81 years) completed the AS-20 and VFQ-25 HRQOL questionnaires. Patients were categorized as diplopic (n=65), or non-diplopic (n=19). Subnormal HRQOL was defined as below the 5th percentile for adults with no visual impairment. The proportion of patients below normal was compared overall and by diplopia status.

Results

Overall, more patients scored below normal with the AS-20 than with the VFQ-25 (90% vs 29%, P <0.0001). Non-diplopic patients were more often below normal on AS-20 psychosocial subscale than function subscale (95% vs 42%, P=0.002), while diplopic patients were more often below normal on the function subscale (85% vs 68% and P=0.01). On the psychosocial subscale, more non-diplopic than diplopic patients scored below normal (95% vs 68%; P=0.01); on the function subscale more diplopic than non-diplopic patients scored below normal (85% vs 42%; P=0.0005). The VFQ-25 appeared insensitive to non-diplopic strabismus: no patients scored below normal on composite score and no more than 11% scored below normal on VFQ-25 subscales. Of diplopic patients, 37% scored below normal on VFQ-25 composite score. No more than 38% scored below normal on VFQ-25 subscales.

Conclusion

The new AS-20 appears more sensitive than the VFQ-25 for detecting reduced HRQOL in adult strabismus, and therefore may be a more useful tool for clinical assessment and clinical trials.

Purpose

To investigate changes of vision-related quality of life during a 10-year period in a type 1 diabetes population.

Design

Prospective cohort study

Participants

Individuals who had their diabetes diagnosed before 30 years of age were considered to have type 1 diabetes (N=1,210). Those who participated in both 14-year (1995–96) and 25-year (2005–07) follow-up examinations were included in the current analysis (N=471).

Methods

Vision-related quality of life was measured with the National Eye Institute Vision Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25).

Main Outcome Measures

Changes in vision-related quality of life scores.

Results

Loss of three lines in the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart was the most important factor related to negative changes in the NEI-VFQ-25 scores in our study after controlling for confounders. Most important changes were observed in subscales such as general vision (−6.46 points); mental health (−10.19 points); role difficulty (−6.06 points); and driving (−10.43 points). Unemployment and the development long-term complications such as nephropathy were also associated with negative changes in some NEI-VFQ-25 subscale scores. On the other hand, changes in diabetic retinopathy status were not related to changes in any subscale after 10 years.

Conclusions

Change in visual acuity was the most important factor associated with changes in vision-related quality of life scores in individuals with type 1 diabetes during a 10-year period. Our findings support the necessity of close follow-up of type 1 diabetes individuals in order to avoid development of long-term complications and vision loss to improve quality of life.

Purpose

To examine the association between longitudinal changes in visual acuity (VA) and Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in a population-based sample of adult Latinos.

Design

A population-based cohort study of eye disease in Latinos.

Participants

3,169 adult Latino participants who live in the city of La Puente, California.

Methods

Data for these analyses were collected for the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study (LALES). Distance visual acuity (VA) was measured during a detailed ophthalmologic examination using the standard Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study protocol at baseline and a 4 year follow-up examination. HRQOL was assessed by the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) and the Medical Outcomes Study 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey version 1 (SF-12 v.1).

Main Outcome Measures

Mean differences in HRQOL composite and subscale scores between baseline and follow-up were calculated for 3,169 participants with complete clinical examination and HRQOL data at both time points. Mean differences and effect sizes (ES) for NEI-VFQ and SF-12 v.1 scores were calculated for 3 categories of VA change over the 4 year follow-up period (VA improved ≥ 2 lines, no change in VA or −2

Results

For participants with a 2 line loss in VA, we noted an approximate 5 point loss in the NEI-VFQ-25 composite score; with the largest score changes found for the driving difficulties, vision related mental health, and vision related dependency subscales (−12.7, −11.5, and −11.3 respectively). For participants with a 2 line improvement in VA we also noted an approximate 5 point gain in the NEI-VFQ-25 composite score. The largest change (ES = 0.80) was observed for the driving difficulties subscale. No measurable differences in HRQOL were observed for individuals without change in VA from baseline to follow-up.

Conclusions

Clinically important, longitudinal changes in visual acuity (2 line changes or greater) were associated with significant changes in self-reported visual function and well-being. Both the size and direction of visual acuity change influenced change in HRQOL scores.