title: The importance of acuity, stereopsis, and contrast sensitivity for health-related quality of life in elderly women with cataracts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relative contribution of visual and other factors to quality of life among elderly women with bilateral cataract.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were analyzed from a trial of first-eye cataract surgery. Visual parameters, general health, and social variables, and disease-specific (VF-14 Index of Visual Function), generic (Euroqol: EQ-5D, London Handicap Scale, Barthel), and intermediate (anxiety, depression, and activity) outcomes were measured at baseline and 6 months later, when approximately half the group had had surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred six participants provided data at baseline, and 289 at 6 months. At baseline, acuity, stereopsis, and contrast sensitivity were all associated with quality of life. Acuity and stereopsis were most strongly and consistently associated. Change in VF-14 was associated with changes in stereopsis and contrast sensitivity, while change in handicap was associated with change in stereopsis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acuity, stereopsis, and contrast sensitivity each contributed to quality of life, across a range of measures, in elderly women with cataract. Acuity was marginally the most consistently and generally the most strongly associated, but in some analyses stereopsis was more important. Change in quality of life was associated with change in stereopsis and contrast sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sayan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Datta
authors.forename: Alexander J E
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Foss
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Grainge
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gregson
authors.forename: Anwar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaman
authors.forename: Tahir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masud
authors.forename: Fran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Osborn
authors.forename: Rowan H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Harwood
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003867:Depth Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D016387:Women's Health