title: The Italian version of the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire: translation, validity, and reliability.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the Italian adaptation of the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ 25) and to investigate its validity and reliability.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective observational study enrolled nonhospitalized patients with 1 of 5 chronic eye diseases, and a reference sample of subjects without eye diseases. Eligible participants had to be cognitively able to respond to a health status interview and be affected by 1 of the following eye conditions: senile cataract, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cytomegalovirus retinitis or low vision. A control group was composed of subjects with no evidence of underlying eye diseases. The Italian self-administered versions of Medical Outcomes Study Short Form and of the NEI-VFQ 25 were administered to all participants. Reliability and validity of the Italian translation of the NEI-VFQ 25 were tested using statistical methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis points out that the Italian version of the NEI-VFQ 25 has good validity, discriminatory power, internal consistency, and reliability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This Italian version of the NEI-VFQ 25 shows psychometric properties comparable to those of the American version, and thus can be used in clinical research as a specific measure of quality of life in patients with chronic eye diseases.
authors.affiliation: University Eye Clinic of Pavia, Clinica Oculistica, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Piazzale Golgi 2, 27100 Pavia, Italy. gemma.rossi.md@inwind.it
authors.forename: Gemma Caterina Maria
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Milano
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tinelli
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014177:Translations; D014481:United States; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000379:methods*