Visual function among corneal disease patients waiting for penetrating keratoplasty in British Columbia.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to test the applicability of a well-documented visual function assessment (VF-14) in corneal disease patients wait-listed for penetrating keratoplasty to determine if it would be a valuable addition to a priority scheme.


METHODS
A systematic random sample of patients wait-listed for penetrating keratoplasty in British Columbia was selected and administered the VF-14.


RESULTS
The mean VF-14 score was 67.2; it was correlated with best corrected vision. Immigrants had lower VF-14 scores and they considered fewer of the questions applicable to them. There was a correlation between the number of questions considered applicable and the VF-14 score.


CONCLUSIONS
As currently constituted the VF-14 is probably not a useful tool in a multi-cultural population in North America. We propose revisions to the visual function assessment and suggest its inclusion in a priority scheme for penetrating keratoplasty that also includes pain and other clinical indices.
Courtright
P
P
British Columbia Centre for Epidemiologic & International Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Poon
C I
CI
Richards
J S
JS
Chow
D L
DL
Holland
S P
SP
D001955:British Columbia; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006292:Health Priorities; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014787:Vision Tests; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014850:Waiting Lists