title: Quality of life associated with visual loss: a time tradeoff utility analysis comparison with medical health states.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the visual utility values of patients with ocular disease and to compare these values with those of patients with systemic health states
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional utility value assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients with ophthalmic diseases were interviewed in a one-on-one fashion using a standardized time tradeoff utility value assessment form. These values were compared with utility values for systemic health states present in the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Time tradeoff utility value on a scale ranging from 1.0 (perfect visual health) to 0.0 (death). The ophthalmic patient groups were stratified into 4 visual groups dependent on the visual acuity in the better-seeing eye. The groups were as follows: group 1, 20/20 to 20/25; group 2, 20/30 to 20/50; group 3, 20/60 to 20/100; group 4, 20/200 to no light perception.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 500 subjects were enrolled in the study. The mean utility values for the visually stratified groups were: group 1, 0.88; group 2, 0.81; group 3, 0.72; group 4, 0.61. Comparable respective systemic health state utility values for each of the ophthalmic groups were: diabetes mellitus, status after kidney transplantation, moderate stroke, and moderately severe stroke.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Visual loss is associated with a substantial and measurable diminution in quality of life. This diminution in quality of life can be directly compared with that induced by systemic health states.
authors.affiliation: The Center for Value-Based Medicine, Flourtown, Pennsylvania 19031, USA. Lissa1011@aol.com
authors.forename: Melissa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Gary C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Busbee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D014792:Visual Acuity