Postoperative quality of life in macula‐off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment patients and its relation to visual function

Abstract

AbstractPurpose To assess which aspects of postoperative visual function (visual acuity, contrast acuity, or color confusion) are correlated with visual function‐related quality of life measurements after successful surgery for macula‐off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).Methods In patients with a primary macula‐off RRD, best correct visual acuity (BCVA), color confusion indices (CCI saturé and desaturé), and contrast acuity were measured at 12 months postoperatively in both the RRD eye and the fellow control eye, and the 25‐item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ‐25) was filled out.Results Forty‐five patients with a primary unilateral macula‐off RRD were included. There was a significant difference between operated and fellow control eyes with regard to LogMAR BCVA (P < 0.0001), Log contrast acuity (P < 0.0001), saturé CCI (P = 0.018), and desaturé CCI (P = 0.018). Correlations were observed between the composite VFQ‐25 score and postoperative LogMAR BCVA (R = ‐0.53, P < 0.0005) and Log contrast acuity (R = 0.47, P = 0.001). In addition, correlations were found between postoperative LogMAR BCVA and Log contrast acuity and the following subscales: driving, near acuity, role difficulties, and general vision. Also, a correlation between the subscale mental health and LogMAR BCVA was found. No correlations were found between any VFQ‐25 scales and the CCIs.Conclusion Postoperative BCVA, contrast acuity and color confusion in operated macula‐off RRD eyes were significantly worse compared to their fellow control eyes. Several vision‐related quality of life parameters were highly correlated with postoperative BCVA and contrast acuity.