The psychosocial aspects of strabismus: correlation between the AS-20 and DAS59 quality-of-life questionnaires.
OBJECTIVE
To compare two quality-of-life (QoL) scales and subscales: the Derriford Appearance Scale 59 (DAS59) and the Adult Strabismus-20 (AS-20) scale in a series of strabismic and nonstrabismic patients and to illustrate the differences in results between strabismic and nonstrabismic patients.


METHODS
The DAS59 is a self-report QoL questionnaire generating an assessment of distress caused by problems of appearance. The AS-20 is a newly developed strabismus specific QoL scale. A prospective, noninterventional study of a series of consecutive adult patients undergoing strabismus surgery and a control group was performed. Patients were given both questionnaires to complete before surgery. The underlying condition, previous number of surgeries, and deviation measurements were recorded.


RESULTS
Thirty-four patients and 30 controls correctly completed both questionnaires. In the strabismus group, the mean AS-20 score was 50.5. The mean DAS59 score was 122.5 (out of 269). There is strong correlation between the scales (r = -0.813; 95% CI, -0.90 to -0.66; p < 0.0001). In the control group, the AS-20 score was 98.8 and the DAS59, 84.4, with both showing significant differences to the strabismic group (t = 12.9 [p < 0.0001] and t = -4.642 [p < 0.0001], respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The AS-20 shows strong correlation to the widely used DAS59. Strabismus patients show significantly more psychosocial distress than controls. The AS-20 is specific to strabismus patients and the result is not influenced by any other systemic factors that can impinge on the more general DAS59 scale.
Department of Ophthalmology, Walton Hospital, University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool, United Kingdom. jondurnian@me.com
Jonathan Mark
JM
Durnian
Manon Elena
ME
Owen
Ian Bruce
IB
Marsh
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011584:Psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D013285:Strabismus / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult