[The relationships between visual disability and visual scores in patients with retinitis pigmentosa].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between visual disability and visual scores in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.


METHODS
The relationship between visual disability and visual scores (visual acuity and visual field) were investigated in 93 patients with retinitis pigmentosa. The visual disability of each patient was evaluated using a questionnaire (a total of 35 questions in 7 sections regarding daily life). Reproducibility and validity of the questionnaire had been established by an investigation in glaucoma patients. The mean (+/- standard deviation) age of patients was 52.6 +/- 15.1 years, the mean visual acuity (log10 MAR) was 0.6 +/- 0.4, and the mean deviation of visual field with Humphrey program 30-2 was -21.1 +/- 10.0 dB.


RESULTS
The visual acuity in the better eye (r = 0.66-0.81) and the mean sensitivity within the central 10 degrees of the visual field (r = -0.76(-)-0.62) had a definite relationship to the visual disability index of each section (section DI) and their sum (total DI) (p < .0001). This relationship was also confirmed in stepwise multiple linear regression analysis which showed a high correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.57-0.77, p < .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Besides the visual acuity, the mean sensitivity within the central 10 degrees of the visual field is important in evaluating the visual disability of patients with retinitis pigmentosa.
Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Teishin Hospital, Japan.
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I
Sumi
O
O
Okajima
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Shirato
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014794:Visual Fields