Measuring quality of life in oculoplastic patients.

Abstract

To investigate if there is any published evidence of impaired quality of life in conditions which are corrected by oculoplastic surgery and whether there is proven benefit in the quality of life such procedures. We searched a number of databases to determine the level of evidence available for common conditions amenable to oculoplastic surgery. Search terms concentrated on quality of life measures rather than anatomical correction of deformities. The level of evidence available for different conditions was very variable. Certain conditions had extensive research documenting reduction in quality of life, with some evidence for improvement after surgery. Some other common conditions had little or no evidence supporting of reduction in quality of life to support the need for surgery. The evidence is sparse for quality of life improvement after some of our most commonly performed procedures. Many of these procedures are now being identified by primary care trusts (PCTs) as of "low clinical value", and are no longer being routinely commissioned in certain parts of the UK. There is a need to address this lack of evidence to determine whether oculoplastic surgery should continue to be commissioned by PCTs.