Vision-related quality of life in people with central retinal vein occlusion using the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire.
OBJECTIVE
To study visual function and vision-related quality of life in persons with central retinal vein occlusion using the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25).


METHODS
Interviewer-administered study of persons with central retinal vein occlusion. Scores on the VFQ-25 were analyzed and converted to a 100-point scale in which 100 represents the best possible score and 0 represents the worst. Subscale results were compared with previously published data, and a subgroup analysis was performed.


RESULTS
Fifty-one patients participated. The mean adjusted subscale responses were significantly lower than those from a reference group of patients without ocular disease but not significantly different from patients with diabetic retinopathy. Responses to the VFQ-25 correlated most strongly with visual acuity in the better-seeing eye, number of systemic medical conditions, and patients' opinions about their general health. Responses did not correlate with visual acuity in the involved eye.


CONCLUSIONS
Central retinal vein occlusion is an ocular disease that is associated with a decreased vision-related quality of life as measured by the VFQ-25. A decrease in VFQ-25 scores is related to the degree of visual loss in the better-seeing eye and the overall systemic health of the patient.
Deramo
Vincent A
VA
Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Cox
Terry A
TA
Syed
Arjumand B
AB
Lee
Paul P
PP
Fekrat
Sharon
S
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D011788:Quality of Life; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*