Clinical research, comparison of the subjective visual function in patients with epiphora and patients with second-eye cataract.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the subjective visual disability of patients with epiphora and to compare the results with that of patients waiting for second eye cataract surgery.


METHODS
A prospective, randomised, questionnaire-based study.


METHODS
Forty-six patients with epiphora listed for dacryocystorhinostomy and 50 patients having second eye cataract extraction were enrolled. A questionnaire focusing on functional visual disability in daily life and based on VF-14 was completed for each participant.


RESULTS
Eighty-six percent of patients with epiphora and 41% of second-eye cataracts had difficulty reading small print (P < 0.05). The extent of such difficulty was moderate to great in 48% of epiphora and only 26% of cataract patients .A substantial percentage of epiphora patients and second eye cataract also reported difficulty with other tasks, such as doing fine work (78.9% vs. 42%) (P < 0.05), watching television (63.1% vs. 19%) (P < 0.05), seeing steps or stairs (43.4% vs. 10%) (P < 0.05), or reading signs (39.1% vs. 4%) (P < 0.05), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
There is widespread recognition of the effect of cataract on visual function. This has resulted in substantial government funding to improve access to cataract surgery. In comparison, epiphora is rarely considered as a significant cause of visual disability. This study suggests that patients with epiphora suffer the same if not more of a visual handicap than patients awaiting second eye cataract surgery.
Kafil-Hussain
Namir
N
Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust, HP21 8AL, Aylesbury, UK. n_kafil_Hussain@hotmail.com
Khooshebah
Ramona
R
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014787:Vision Tests; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014850:Waiting Lists