Measuring outcomes of cataract surgery using the Quality of Well-Being Scale and VF-14 Visual Function Index.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the validity and responsiveness of the self-administered Quality of Well-Being Scale (QWB-SA) and the 14-item Visual Function Index (VF-14) to assess patients having cataract surgery.


METHODS
Large Southern California health maintenance organization.


METHODS
This study comprised 233 adults who had uneventful small-incision (< 3.0 mm) phacoemulsification cataract extraction under local anesthesia. Patients were assessed before surgery as well as 4 to 6 weeks and 4 months after surgery using the QWB-SA and the VF-14.


RESULTS
Postoperatively, patients reported significant improvements on QWB-SA (P < .005) and VF-14 (P < .001) measures. Those grouped by visual acuity in the operated eye and unoperated eye and first-eye surgery or second-eye surgery had significant changes in VF-14 results (P < .001). Improvements on the QWB-SA were significant except when the preoperative visual acuity was better than 20/40 in the operated eye or 20/50 in the unoperated eye and when patients had first-eye surgery. The vision-specific VF-14 was more sensitive to improvements after surgery than the more general QWB-SA. Both demonstrated a greater magnitude of change with lower baseline scores and correlated significantly with self-reported satisfaction and trouble with vision.


CONCLUSIONS
Both the utility-based generic QWB-SA and disease-specific VF-14 profile were responsive to changes in quality of life after cataract surgery. The VF-14 was more sensitive to change but cannot be used for comparison across disease states or for policy analysis. The QWB-SA can be used to estimate the cost/utility of cataract surgery.
Rosen
Peter N
PN
From the Sharp Rees-Steely Medical Group, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California, USA.
Kaplan
Robert M
RM
David
Kristen
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014792:Visual Acuity