Vision-related Quality of Life and Visual Function after Retinal Detachment Surgery

Abstract

To compare the vision-related quality of life (VR QOL) after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD) surgery with that of normal controls and to investigate the relationship between the VR QOL and visual function after surgery for RD. Prospective, consecutive, comparative case series. The 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) was self-administered by 51 RD patients at six months after surgery. Among the patients with RD, 33 underwent pars plana vitrectomy and 18 received scleral buckling. We examined the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity with the CSV-1000E (Vector Vision Co, Greenville, Ohio, USA), and low-contrast visual acuity (VA) with the CSV-1000LanC10% (Vector Vision Co). From the data obtained by CSV-1000E, the area under the log contrast sensitivity function (AULCSF) was calculated. The VFQ-25 also was administered to the 46 age-matched normal controls. The VFQ-25 composite score and the subscales associated with near activities, mental health, dependency, and peripheral vision were significantly lower in the RD group than in the normal controls (P < .05). The VFQ-25 composite score significantly correlated with AULCSF (r = 0.354; P < .05) and low-contrast VA (r = -0.475; P < 0.001), whereas there was no correlation between the VFQ-25 composite score and logMAR BCVA (r = 0.172; P = .229). The VR QOL is significantly impaired in patients after surgery for RD. The disturbance in VR QOL was significantly associated with deterioration of postoperative contrast sensitivity.