Self-assessment of the quality of vision: association of questionnaire score with objective clinical tests.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association of a quality of life-visual function questionnaire with an objective clinical test of visual function.


METHODS
We have developed a questionnaire to assess self-reported visual satisfaction in ophthalmic patients suffering from chronic eye conditions causing visual impairment. The questionnaire was administered to 120 patients suffering from age-related cataract, chronic open angle glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, branch retinal vein occlusion, and presbyopia or minor refractive defects. All the participants also underwent determination of visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, glare, and visual field.


RESULTS
The questionnaire has a good reproducibility, a high internal consistency, and is able to discriminate between the different groups of patients. The total questionnaire score is significantly associated with the results of all visual function tests with the exception of glare. When entered into a multiple linear regression model, near visual acuity and contrast sensitivity are still considerably associated with the total questionnaire score. The psychological attitude of the patient towards his/her health problem is also associated with the total average score.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, the model explains 49% of the variance in the average questionnaire score.
Carta
A
A
Istituto di Oftalmologia, Faculty of Sciences, University of Parma, Italy.
Braccio
L
L
Belpoliti
M
M
Soliani
L
L
Sartore
F
F
Gandolfi
S A
SA
Maraini
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019466:Glare; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000150:complications; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014785:Vision, Ocular; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014794:Visual Fields