title: Utility values associated with vitreous floaters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To ascertain the health-related quality of life associated with symptomatic degenerative vitreous floaters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional questionnaire survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this institution-based study, 311 outpatients aged 21 years and older who presented with symptoms of floaters were enrolled. Data from 266 patients (85.5%) who completed the questionnaire were analyzed. Utility values were assessed using a standardized utility value questionnaire. The time trade-off (TTO) and standard gamble (SG) for death and blindness techniques were used to calculate the utility values. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariate analyses were performed using Stata Release 6.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the study population was 52.9 ± 12.02 years (range, 21-97). The mean utility values were 0.89, 0.89, and 0.93 for TTO, SG (death), and SG (blindness), respectively. Patients aged ≤55 years reported significantly lower SG (blindness) utility values when compared with patients above 55 years of age (age ≤55 = 0.92, age >55 = 0.94, P = .007). Utility measurements did not demonstrate significant relationship with any of the other socio-demographic variables examined in this study. The utility values did not demonstrate any significant relationship with other ocular characteristics such as duration of symptoms, presence of a posterior vitreous detachment, and presence or severity of myopia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Symptomatic degenerative vitreous floaters have a negative impact on health-related quality of life. Younger symptomatic patients are more likely to take a risk of blindness to get rid of the floaters than older patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore. wagle.ajeet.madhav@alexandrahealth.com.sg
authors.forename: Ajeet M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wagle
authors.forename: Wei-Yen
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Tiong-Peng
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.forename: Kumari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Neelam
authors.forename: Kah-Guan
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Au Eong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult