Vision-specific Quality Of Life Research Articles

Social and Quality-of-Life Impact of Refractive Surgery in Children With Developmental Disorders and Spectacle Nonadherence

PURPOSEChildren with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID) often cannot tolerate wearing spectacles or contact lenses, which are the standard of care for treating ametropia.1,2. We aimed to assess the impact of refractive surgery on social functioning and vision-specific quality of life in this population. DESIGNProspective, before-and-after case series. METHODSSETTING: Single, academic tertiary care center.STUDY POPULATION: 18 children with ASD and/or ID, ametropia, and spectacle non-adherence were included in the analysis. PROCEDUREParticipants underwent refractive surgery with either intraocular lens implantation or keratectomy. Parents completed the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2) and Pediatric Eye Questionnaire (PedEyeQ) at baseline and 1, 6, and 12 months post-surgery.3,4MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Median change in SRS-2 T-scores and PedEyeQ scores 12 months after surgery, compared to baseline. The minimum clinically important difference (MCID) was set at 5 points for the SRS-2 and 10 points for the PedEyeQ. RESULTSAt 12 months after surgery, statistically significant improvements were observed in the SRS-2 domains of Social Awareness (8 points, 95% CI 2 to 13, p = .03) and Social Motivation (7 points, 95% CI 2 to 15, p = .03). Total SRS-2 T-score improved in a clinically important manner for 56% (10/18) of patients, but the median change was not statistically significant (5 points, 95% CI -1 to 9, p = .10). Vision-specific quality of life showed statistically significant improvements in the domains of Functional Vision (40 points, 95% CI 7 to 73, p = .02) and Bothered by Eyes/Vision (23 points, 95% CI 3 to 45, p = .02). CONCLUSIONSRefractive surgery led to clinically and statistically significant improvements in domains of social functioning and vision-specific quality of life at 12 months after surgery. A narrow majority of patients demonstrated a clinically important improvement in overall social functioning, but these changes were not statistically significant. The results suggest that refractive surgery in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, ametropia, and spectacle non-adherence may provide developmental and quality of life benefits. Larger, controlled studies are required to validate these findings.

Quality of Life of the Blind: Looking through a Wider “Lens” Beyond the Medical “Eye”

Over one-fourth of the global population experience Visual Impairment and Blindness (VI&B) where they often experience significant challenges than those who can 'see'. Despite the subject of Quality of Life (QoL) being extensively researched, there is little or no focus on explaining this concept as applicable to persons with VI&B. Furthermore, there is no unified characterization of QoL as a construct although diverse views have been presented in general. This paper seeks to explore the concept of QoL in the specific domain of persons with VI&B. In the process, a comprehensive literature search was carried out using multiple electronic databases where 239 publications were consulted. Selected papers were subjected to a content analysis to identify conceptual and measurement principles pertaining to their QoL. The existing vision-specific QoL instruments are mostly domain specific and focus on the medical aspect of a life of quality, disregarding the influence of environmental and personal factors that contribute to their well-being. Results of the analysis pointed to the fact that QoL of persons with VI&B should draw attention to their specific needs, expectations, and values, where a comprehensive characterization that encompasses physical, psychological, social, material, and environmental aspects, along with an evaluation of the individual’s participation, autonomy, personal development, and the impact of vision requires to be explored. This multi-dimensional conceptual model could be used as the basis for the development of a new measure for the assessment of overall quality of life for persons with VI&B.

Vision-specific and cancer-specific quality of life in ocular graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

To compare the vision-specific and cancer-specific quality of life (QOL) between patients with and without ocular graft-versus-host disease (oGVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHCT). This cross-sectional observational study analyzed 142 patients after alloHCT including 94 patients with oGVHD and 48 without. oGVHD was diagnosed according to International Chronic Ocular GVHD Consensus Group (ICOGCG) criteria. QOL was assessed by using the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). Compared with non-oGVHD patients, patients with oGVHD had worse vision-specific (NEI VFQ-25: 64.3 ± 20.3 vs. 77.6 ± 19.3, P < 0.001) and cancer-specific (EORTC QLQ-C30: 59.9 ± 20.3 vs. 67.4 ± 17.5, P = 0.03) QOL, as well as impaired cognitive function (72.7 ± 22.1 vs. 82.3 ± 19.0, P = 0.01). The vision-specific QOL was significantly correlated with ICOGCG score (β = - 1.88, 95%CI: - 3.35 to - 0.41, P = 0.01) and post-alloHCT medical expense (β = - 5.70, 95%CI: - 10.35 to - 1.05, P = 0.02), while cancer-specific QOL was strikingly correlated with post-alloHCT medical expense (β = - 9.91, 95%CI: - 14.43 to - 5.39, P < 0.001), frequency of ophthalmic medication (β = - 0.93, 95%CI: - 1.64 to - 0.21, P = 0.01), education (β = - 6.97, 95%CI: - 13.31 to - 0.62, P = 0.03), and peripheral blood stem cell use (β = - 6.42, 95%CI: - 12.59 to - 0.25, P = 0.04). Patients with oGVHD experienced significant impairment in both vision-specific and cancer-specific QOL including cognitive function when compared with those without after alloHCT. Multidimensional QOL assessment should be included in the long-term alloHCT survivorship care.

Evaluating vision-specific quality of life and functional vision in a Brazilian population with Stargardt disease.

To compare the vision-specific quality of life (QoL) of individuals with Stargardt disease (STGD) with that of healthy individuals and to investigate the association between vision-specific QoL and functional vision. This cross-sectional study included 41 patients with STGD and 46 healthy volunteers matched by age and gender. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was used to calculate the Functional Acuity Score (FAS) and Goldmann perimetry the Functional Field Score (FFS). These scores were combined to obtain the Functional Vision Score (FVS). Vision-specific QoL was assessed using the 25-item version of the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25). The groups had similar sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. There were significant differences in BCVA, vision-specific QoL assessed by the NEI VFQ-25, and FVS (p < 0.001) between individuals with STGD and controls. The final total score and all the subscales of the NEI VQF-25 questionnaire were significantly lower in the STGD group (p < 0.001), except for the subscales general health, color vision, and ocular pain. NEI VFQ-25 results in the STGD group were positively correlated with family income, FVS, and FFS. FVS was the score best correlated with the NEI VFQ-25 total score. Individuals with STGD had significant impairment of vision-specific QoL and functional vision compared with controls and the FVS was the objective evaluation method most correlated with vision-specific QoL in this population.

Impact of strabismus on vision-specific quality of life in children with cortical visual impairment

Cortical visual impairment (CVI) is a leading cause of pediatric visual impairment. In CVI, vision is decreased due to damage to postgeniculate visual pathways in the brain. Little is known about vision-specific quality of life (VS-QOL) in children with CVI.

Effect of Feasibility and Religion on Health Utility Questionnaire Responses of Elderly Ophthalmic Patients: A Pilot Study

Objective: To study the effect of religion on the imagination of death/shortening of life in time tradeoff questions and to explore the feasibility of open-question time tradeoff methods (TTO1), modified EQ-VT time tradeoff (TTO2), EQ-visual analog scale (VAS), EQ5D-5L, and HUI3 patientreported outcomes in elderly ophthalmic eye patients in Thailand. Materials and Methods: Face-to-face interview, cross-sectional study. Results: Among 40 ophthalmic patients, there were 16 diabetic retinopathy cases, 15 cataract cases, and 8 wet-age related macular degeneration cases with a mean age of 63, 58, and 72 years, respectively. The mean utility scores obtained from the TTO1, TTO2, EQ-5D-5L, and HUI3 were 0.5, 0.49, 0.80, and 0.61, respectively. The HUI3 required the longest mean interview time at 5.5 minutes, whereas the NEI-VFQ-25 required the shortest mean interview time at 1.08 minutes. Of the patients, 87.5%, 10%, and 2.5% reported a mild, moderate, and marked effect of their religion on their decisions made during TTO answering. The utility scores from the EQ-VAS, EQ-5D-5L, and HUI3 showed a significant positive correlation with the NEI-VFQ-25 quality of life score. The utility scores from the EQ-5D-5L and HUI3 were significantly associated with the severity of visual impairment. Four participants were not willing to trade in TTO1. TTO2 methods were less complicated to answer as compared with TTO1. Conclusion: The HUI3 utility score was correlated with change in visual impairment and vision-specific quality of life, and its use is recommended in the utility assessment in eye disease. TTO1 is more complicated compared with TTO2. In clinical ophthalmic practice, the use of indirect utility assessment methods is preferred over direct methods. Keywords: Tradeoff method; Religion; Quality of life; TTO

Vision-Specific Quality of Life in Patients with Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) (P18-12.005)

Vision-Specific Quality of Life in Patients with Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) (P18-12.005)

Quality of Life in Patients with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic became a challenge to maintain care for patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). We aimed to find out how they were affected during lockdown. Thirty IIH patients admitted to hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic were studied. Their demographic and neuro-ophthalmological findings were evaluated. The World Health Organization – Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), the EUROHIS Quality of Life (QOL) 8-item index, National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25), Headache Impact Test (HIT-6), and COVID-19 Fear Scale were used to assess QOL and pandemic-associated fear. Thirty age, sex, and body mass index matched volunteers constituted the control group. Apart from the COVID-19 Fear Scale and colour vision subscale of the NEI-VFQ-25, all scale scores were worse in IIH patients than in healthy control subjects. Patients with severe visual field defects had higher HIT-6 scores (p = .036). Both vision-specific and overall QOL was reduced in patients with IIH. Headache severity and disability were more prominent in patients with severe visual loss. Fear caused by the COVID pandemic was not different in IIH patients than in healthy control subjects.

Visual Field Loss Impacts Vision-Specific Quality of Life by Race and Ethnicity: The Multiethnic Ophthalmology Cohorts of California Study

To assess the impact of visual field loss (VFL) on vision-specific quality of life (VSQOL) by race, ethnicity, and age. Pooled analysis of cross-sectional data from 3 population-based, prospective cohort studies. The Multiethnic Ophthalmology Cohorts of California Study (MOCCaS) participants included 6142 Latinos, 4582 Chinese Americans, and 6347 Black Americans from Los Angeles County. A total of 17 071 adults aged 40 years and older completed comprehensive interviews and ophthalmic examinations from 2000 to 2018. VFL was measured using the Humphrey Swedish Interactive Threshold Algorithm Standard 24-2 test as decibels (dB) of mean deviation (MD). Multivariable linear regression was used to evaluate the impact of VFL in the better-seeing eye on self-reported VSQOL scores, adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical covariables. Hierarchical modeling was performed to determine the best-fit model after considering main effects and interactions by race, ethnicity, and age. The VSQOL scores were measured using the 25 Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25). Item response theory was used to model vision-related task and well-being composite scores, and classical test theory was used to calculate 11 vision subscales. The impact of VFL on VSQOL varied by race and ethnicity. Five-point reductions in task and well-being scores were reached after mild-to-moderate VFL for Latinos (6.7 dB and 7.5 dB), mild-to-moderate VFL for Chinese Americans (7.0 dB and 8.7 dB), and moderate-to-severe VFL for Black Americans (10.1 dB and 12.9 dB), respectively. Differences met statistical significance when comparing Latinos and Black Americans (P < 0.001). Visual field loss had the largest effect on driving among all participants. Driving difficulties were the only VSQOL outcome modified by age; participants aged 65 years and older scored 0.487 lower points per MD of VFL (P<0.001). Subscales most affected by VFL included role function, mental health, and dependency. Race and ethnicity modified the impact of VFL on VSQOL, even after adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. In MOCCaS, Latinos and Chinese Americans reported a greater change in VSQOL than Black Americans for the same level of VFL. Future work should assess whether findings were due to socioeconomic or cultural differences in perception of visual function.

Examining different outcome measures for reliability in assessing the impact of cataract surgery in quality of health.

The aim of this study was to determine a reliable combination of vision-specific measures and general health measures to assess the improvement on the patient's QoL following cataract surgery either when patients had first time surgery or had already received successful surgery in the fellow eye for cataract. Study sample included two waves of data measurement in 150 patients undergoing uncomplicated cataract surgery who were assessed for visual acuity, vision-specific quality of life, and general health. Data were acquired pre-surgery and 2 months post-surgery. About 90 patients haven't had prior cataract surgery while 60 patients had prior successful cataract surgery in the fellow eye. There was considerable improvement in all outcome measures following cataract surgery. Patients who have had prior surgery presented with modestly higher scores in the vision-specific QoL measures and minimal benefit pre-operatively compared to those who haven't had any surgery in the general health measure. They also had more gains post-surgery in the vision-specific QoL measures only. There is a possibility that gains in QoL plateau after a certain level of visual acuity improvement. While improvement can be detected with a general health QoL measure, this measure may require additional psychometric validation to the particular population beforehand. Otherwise, a combination of vision-specific outcome measures will provide the most reliable estimate.

Primary trabeculectomy for advanced glaucoma: pragmatic multicentre randomised controlled trial (TAGS)

ObjectiveTo determine whether primary trabeculectomy or primary medical treatment produces better outcomes in term of quality of life, clinical effectiveness, and safety in patients presenting with advanced glaucoma.DesignPragmatic multicentre randomised...

Rasch Validation of the VF-14 Scale of Vision-Specific Functioning in Greek Patients

The Visual Functioning-14 (VF-14) scale is the most widely employed index of vision-related functional impairment and serves as a patient-reported outcome measure in vision-specific quality of life. The purpose of this study is to rigorously examine and validate the VF-14 scale on a Greek population of ophthalmic patients employing Rasch measurement techniques. Two cohorts of patients were sampled in two waves. The first cohort included 150 cataract patients and the second 150 patients with other ophthalmic diseases. The patients were sampled first while pending surgical or other corrective therapy and two months after receiving therapy. The original 14-item VF-14 demonstrated poor measurement precision and disordered response category thresholds. A revised eight-item version, the VF-8G (‘G’ for ‘Greek’), was tested and confirmed for validity in the cataract research population. No differential functioning was reported for gender, age, and underlying disorder. Improvement in the revised scale correlated with improvement in the mental and physical component of the general health scale SF-36. In conclusion, our findings support the use of the revised form of the VF-14 for assessment of vision-specific functioning and quality of life improvement in populations with cataracts and other visual diseases than cataracts, a result that has not been statistically confirmed previously.

Impact of Visual Field Loss on Vision-Specific Quality of Life in African Americans: The African American Eye Disease Study

To elucidate how visual field loss (VFL) impacts self-reported vision-specific quality of life (VSQOL) in African Americans, who experience a disproportionate burden of visual impairment. Cross-sectional, population-based cohort. Eligible participants (n=7,957) were recruited who self-identified as African American, were aged 40 years or older, and resided in Inglewood, California, USA. A total of 6,347 participants (80.0%) completed clinical eye examinations. Total mean deviation (MD) of VFL was measured bilaterally as decibels (dB) using the Humphrey SITA Standard 24-2 test. VSQOL was measured using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ 25) and scored using item response theory (IRT). Participants with reliable data (n=5,121) had a mean age of 60.7 years (standard deviation 11.0); those with worse VFL were older; had more comorbidities, lower income, less education, and worse visual acuity; and were more likely to be unemployed and depressed. Using IRT analysis, a change in VF of 6.2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.3, 7.7) dB and 9.2 (95% CI: 7.5, 11.9) dB was necessary to observe a meaningful (5-point) difference in vision-related task and emotional well-being scores, respectively. VFL had the greatest impact on self-reported driving ability (6.0 dB [95% CI: 5.2, 7.1]), followed by satisfaction with general vision, near vision, vision-related mental health, and peripheral vision. The strongest impact of VFL reported by African Americans was on their ability to complete visual tasks, especially for driving. An effect of VFL on emotional well-being also was observed, but the magnitude of association was about 50% lower for well-being compared to that of task.

Effects of Vision Correction Status on Visual Functions (Vision-Specific Quality of Life) : Focusing on University Students

Purpose : This study aimed to analyze visual functions by vision correction status, by administering questionnaires about visual functions to undergraduates. Methods : The visual functions (vision-specific quality of life) of 290 undergraduates without eye diseases were evaluated by using the Korean version of National Eye Institute's Visual Functional Questionnaire(NEI-VFQ), from March to May, 2019. This study comparatively was analyzed by the differences in visual functions by the wearing purposes of glasses or contact lens. Results : The group that did not need any correction scored 94.17 on the item of visual function, while the one that needed correction scored 85.33. The former showed the highest scores on each item but the latter showed overall lower scores at the items of the general health and general vision, ocular pain and near vision and distance vision. The group that had no need for correction scored higher at VFQ-13, while the one that needed correction scored lower at all items other than near vision and role difficulties. Conclusion : The visual functions based on the status of visual correction for undergraduates showed that the group with uncorrected vision was poorer than the other group. In particular, the scores on the items general health and general vision were significantly worse for the group with uncorrected vision. The findings suggested that uncorrected vision has negative effects on the vision-specific quality of life.

Intrastromal corneal ring segments for treating keratoconus.

Keratoconus is a degenerative condition of the cornea that profoundly affects vision and vision-specific quality of life. The axial cornea thins and protrudes, resulting in irregularity and, eventually, scarring of the cornea. There are multiple options available for treating keratoconus. Intrastromal corneal ring segments are small, crescent-shaped plastic rings that are placed in the deep, peripheral corneal stroma in order to flatten the cornea. They are made of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The procedure does not involve corneal tissue nor does it invade the central optical zone. Intrastromal corneal ring segments are approved for use when contact lenses or spectacles are no longer adequate. To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of intrastromal corneal ring segments as a treatment for keratoconus. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Trials Register) (2018, Issue 1); Ovid MEDLINE; Embase.com; PubMed; Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature Database (LILACS); ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP). We did not implement any date or language restrictions in the electronic search for trials. We last searched the electronic databases on 25 January 2018. Two review authors independently assessed records from the electronic searches to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Disagreements were resolved by discussion. We planned for two authors to independently review full-text reports, using standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. We found no RCTs comparing intrastromal corneal ring segments with spectacles or contact lenses. In the absence of eligible RCTs to review, no conclusions can be drawn.

Impact du traitement antiglaucomateux et de la pathologie de la surface oculaire sur la qualité de vie des patients glaucomateux dans la région de Sousse (Tunisie)

To assess the impact of glaucoma treatment and ocular surface disease (OSD) on the vision-specific quality-of-life (VS-QoL) of glaucoma patients attending Farhat Hached university hospital Sousse-Tunisia. This was a cross-sectional study enrolling one-hundred-twenty patients followed for primary open angle glaucoma. All patients successfully responded to the Arabic version of the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire 25 (NEI-VFQ 25). QoL was quantified in terms of scores (0-100) and correlated with the characteristics of glaucoma treatment and status of the ocular surface. One hundred and twenty patients were studied. The mean number of medications and instilled drops was 1.95 (1-4) and 2.69 (1-7) respectively. A total of 66.7% patients reported side effects of treatment. On examination, moderate or severe dry eye syndrome was identified in 90% of cases. A total of 16.7% of patients had superficial punctate keratopathy. The number of instilled drops per day, the use of brimonidine or oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, and the presence of OSD had a negative impact on the NEI-VFQ 25 scores. Glaucoma treatment and OSD are 2 factors potentially reducing the QoL of glaucoma patients, on which the ophthalmologist can act by optimizing treatment and regularly examining the ocular surface of glaucoma patients.

Improving eye care in residential aged care facilities using the Residential Ocular Care (ROC) model: study protocol for a multicentered, prospective, customized, and cluster randomized controlled trial in Australia

BackgroundOlder adults in residential aged care facilities have unnecessarily high levels of vision impairment (VI) which are largely treatable or correctable. However, no current comprehensive eye health service model exists in this setting in Australia. We aimed to determine the clinical, person-centered, and economic effectiveness of a novel eye care model, the Residential Ocular Care (ROC).Methods/designThis protocol describes a multicentered, prospective, randomized controlled trial. A total of 395 participants with distance vision < 6/12 (0.30 LogMAR) and/or near vision N8 (1.00 M) or worse will be recruited from 38 urban and rural aged care facilities across Victoria, Australia. Aged care facilities will be randomized (1:1) to one of two parallel groups. Participants in the ROC group will receive a comprehensive and tailored eye care pathway that includes, as necessary, refraction and spectacle provision, cataract surgery, low vision rehabilitation, and/or a referral to an ophthalmologist for funded treatment. Usual care participants will be referred for an evaluation to the eye care service associated with the facility or an eye care provider of their choice. The primary outcome will be presenting near and distance vision assessed at the two- and six-month follow-up visits, post baseline. Secondary outcomes will include vision-specific quality of life, mobility, falls, depression, and eye care utilization at two and six months. An incremental cost-effectiveness analysis will also be undertaken.DiscussionThe ROC study is the first multicentered, prospective, customized, and cluster randomized controlled trial in Australia to determine the effectiveness of a comprehensive and tailored eye care model for people residing in aged care facilities. Results from this trial will assist health and social care planners in implementing similar innovative models of care for this growing segment of the population in Australia and elsewhere.Trial registrationAustralian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12615000587505. Registered on 4 June 2015 – retrospectively registered.

Visual Structure and Function in Collision Sport Athletes.

Vision-based measures have been shown to be useful markers in multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer and Parkinson disease. Therefore, these testing paradigms may have applications to populations explaining repetitive head trauma that has been associated with long-term neurodegenerative sequelae. We investigated retinal structure and visual function in professional collision sport athletes compared to age- and race-matched control participants. In this cross-sectional study, participants underwent spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular ganglion cell complex (GCC = ganglion cell + inner plexiform layers) thickness. High-contrast visual acuity (100% level), low-contrast letter acuity (LCLA) (1.25% and 2.5% levels), and King-Devick Test of rapid number naming performance were administered. Vision-specific quality of life (QOL) measures were assessed. Among 46 collision sport athletes (boxing, n = 14; football, n = 29; ice hockey, n = 3) and 104 control participants, average RNFL thickness was a significant predictor of athlete vs control status with athletes demonstrating 4.8-μm of thinning compared to controls (P = 0.01, generalized estimating equation [GEE] models accounting for age and within-subject, intereye correlations). Athlete vs control status was not a predictor of RNFL thickness for the subgroup of football players in this cohort (P = 0.60). Binocular (P = 0.001) and monocular (P = 0.02) LCLA at 2.5% contrast and vision-specific QOL (P = 0.04) were significant predictors of athlete vs control status (GEE models accounting for age and within-subject, intereye correlations). Rapid number naming performance times were not significantly different between the control and athlete groups. This study showed that retinal axonal and neuronal loss is present among collision sport athletes, with most notable differences seen in boxers. These findings are accompanied by reductions in visual function and QOL, similar to patterns observed in multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases. Vision-based changes associated with head trauma exposure that have the potential to be detected in vivo represent a unique opportunity for further study to determine if these changes in collision sport athletes are predictive of future neurodegeneration.

Association between vision-specific quality of life and falls in community-dwelling older adults: LOHAS

BackgroundFalls and fall-related fractures are a major public health problem among the older adults. Although objective measures of poor vision have been reported to be associated with falls, the association of self-reported visual function and vision-specific quality of life (QOL) with falls has been inconsistent across several studies. We investigated the association of self-reported visual function and vision specific QOL with falls in community-dwelling older adults.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis using the baseline data from participants of the Locomotive Syndrome and Health Outcome in Aizu Cohort Study (LOHAS), which is an ongoing population-based cohort study to evaluate the association of physical dysfunction with the clinical outcomes in community-dwelling people. In the present study, the participants aged over 65 years in 2010 were eligible. The exposure variable was the composite score of the VFQ-J11, which was newly developed using item response theory to evaluate vision specific QOL, and the self-reported outcomes were any fall and frequent falls (≥2) over a 1-month period. We estimated odds ratios using separate logistic regression models adjusted for relevant confounding factors.ResultsAmong 1624 participants, the median (interquartile range) composite score of VFQ-J11 was 86.8 (76.0–95.9). Any fall and frequent falls were reported by 13.9% and 5.4% of participants, respectively. The composite score of the VFQ-J11 was significantly associated with both frequent falls (adjusted ORs per 10 points, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.68–0.93) and any fall (adjusted ORs per 10 points, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.76–0.94).ConclusionsWe found that the composite score of the VFQ-J11 was associated with falls in community-dwelling older adults. Detecting individuals with visual impairments associated with falls using the VFQ-J11 and improvement in the score by interventions could prevent falls. We may consider adding self-reported visual function and vision-specific QOL to conventional risk factors for fall among older adults.

Quantitative analyses of factors related to anxiety and depression in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.

The purpose of this study is to determine the factors related to anxiety and depression in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The status of anxiety and depression was determined in RP patients with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire which consisted of subscales for HADS-anxiety (HADS-A) and HADS-depression (HADS-D). The vision-specific quality of life (VSQOL) was assessed with the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire 25 (NEI-VFQ25). The correlations between the HADS-A or HADS-D scores and vision-related clinical parameters such as the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), Functional Acuity Score, Functional Field Score, Functional Vision Score, the NEI- VFQ25 subscale score were determined. The socioeconomic status, such as the work status and membership in the RP society, was investigated to determine the factors related to the HADS-A and HADS-D scores. One hundred and twelve RP patients (46 men and 66 women) with mean age of 60.7±15.4 (standard deviation) years were studied. The HADS-A score was not significantly correlated with any visual functions but was significantly correlated with the general health condition (r = -0.34, P<0.001) and the role limitation (r = -0.20, P = 0.03) of the NEI-VFQ25 subscale. The HADS-D score was significantly correlated with all the visual functions (r = -0.38 to 0.29, P<0.001), the NEI-VFQ25 subscale score (r = - 0.58 to -0.33, P<0.001) by Spearman’s correlations. The HADS-A score was significantly higher in the members of the RP society than in non-members (P = 0.013). The mean HADS-D score of employed individuals was significantly lower than that of unemployed ones (P = 0.001) by the Mann-Whitney U test. The results indicate that visual function impairments and vision-related quality of life are associated with a depressive state, and the general health condition is related to anxiety in RP patients. Being employed may be strongly correlated with the degree of depression in RP patients.