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Abstract #15166 Published in IGR 8-4
Impact of severity and bilaterality of visual impairment on health-related quality of life
Varma R; Wu J; Chong K; Azen SP; Hays RD; Los Angeles Latino Eye Study GroupOphthalmology 2006; 113: 1846-1853
See also comment(s) by Henry Jampel •
OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of unilateral and bilateral visual impairment (VI) and its severity on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in Latinos 40 years and older. DESIGN: A cross-sectional population-based study, the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study (LALES). PARTICIPANTS: Five thousand three hundred seventy-seven LALES participants. METHODS: Health-related quality of life 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). Visual acuity (VA) was measured by a standardized protocol. Based on the presenting VA, VI was classified as unilateral or bilateral impairment and as either mild (20/40-20/63) or moderate/severe (20/80 or worse). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: National Eye Institute VFQ-25 and SF-12 composite and subscale scores. RESULTS: The NEI VFQ mean composite score decreased from no VI (86) to bilateral moderate/severe VI (66) (P < 0.006). Relative to participants with no VI, those with unilateral or bilateral VI at any severity level had significantly lower NEI VFQ-25 scores for 10 of the 12 subscales (P < 0.05). The largest mean score differences between participants with and without VI were observed for subscales related to driving difficulties (42.5 points), vision-related dependency (29.1 points), distance vision (27.0 points), and vision-related mental health (24.5 points). No differences in SF-12 scores were found between participants with and without VI (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Relative to persons with no VI, persons with bilateral mild and unilateral or bilateral moderate/severe VI report greater difficulties in performing most vision-dependent daily activities and experience vision-related dependency and poorer vision-related mental health. Because most visual function subscale scores were significantly lower in persons with bilateral mild and/or unilateral/bilateral moderate/severe VI, health care providers should consider intervention in these persons. Our findings provide further insight into the relationship between severity level, bilaterality of VI, and self-reported visual function. These data can be used to refine the determination of visual disability in persons with VI.
Dr. R. Varma, Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA. rvarma@usc.edu
Classification:
1.4 Quality of life (Part of: 1 General aspects)