Vision-related quality of life in patients suffering from age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relative impact of best and worst eye on vision-related quality of life in patients suffering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD).


METHODS
Quality of life and visual acuity data were collected at baseline during a randomized clinical trial.


METHODS



METHODS
Multicenter (11 centers), international study.


METHODS
One hundred fourteen patients with a diagnosis of exudative AMD and primary or recurrent subfoveal neovascular membrane (greatest linear dimension of lesion < or =5400 microm; > or =50% of the total lesion was choroidal neovascularization (CNV); classic component of the total CNV > or = 1.0 mm(2)). All patients were over age 50 years, of any race, either sex. INTERVENTION OR OBSERVATION PROCEDURE: NEI-VFQ-39 questionnaire administered to patients at home by trained telephone interviewers.


METHODS
ETDRS visual acuity (VA) was measured in both eyes separately. Vision-related quality of life (QoL) was assessed using the NEI-VFQ-39. An analysis of variance was performed on the NEI-VFQ scores, including best eye VA (VA > 20/40 vs VA < or = 20/40), worst eye VA (VA > 20/200 vs VA < or = 20/200), and the interaction between the two as independent variables.


RESULTS
Best eye VA was 0.34 on average, with VA > 20/40 in 43.0% of patients. Worst eye VA was 0.85 on average, with VA > 20/200 in 32.5% of patients. VA was not linked to general health and ocular pain scores. General Vision, Near Activities, Distance Vision, Driving, Mental Health, Role Difficulties, Dependency, Peripheral Vision, and the Global NEI-VFQ scores were affected by both best eye VA and worst eye VA.


CONCLUSIONS
In the study sample, worst eye VA (< or =20/200) and best eye VA (< or =20/40) contributed independently to vision-related QoL. These results suggest that preserving a minimal visual acuity in the worst eye may contribute to vision-related quality of life.
Berdeaux
Gilles H
GH
Alcon Research Ltd, 92563 Rueil-Malmaison, France. Gilles.Berdeaux@AlconLabs.com
Nordmann
Jean-Phillipe
JP
Colin
Emma
E
Arnould
Benoit
B
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology