title: Sight-dependent quality of life and ophthalmic findings in a group of Brazilian patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the visual quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and to observe whether this parameter could be correlated to the findings of the ophthalmologic examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  The translated and validated 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) was used to assess the visual quality of life. Clinical data on MS, visual acuity, visual fields, optic coherence tomography (OCT) and disc cupping were used for assessing correlation with VFQ-25.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean VFQ-25 value was 78.6 ± 18.2% in 27 patients. VFQ-25 did not correlate with patients' ages, with disability (EDSS), disease duration or medication use. Visual acuity showed a relatively poor (<60%) correlation to VFQ-25, while no correlation could be established between visual fields, OCT and disc cupping with VFQ-25.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MS patients present several alterations in their eyes and sight that cannot be assessed by isolated measures. Ophthalmological examination of these patients must include many parameters not usually used in standard ophthalmologic consultations.
authors: Department of Neurology, Medical School, Universidade Metropolitana de SAntos (UNIMES), Santos SP, Brazil. yara@bsnet.com.br
authors: Yára Dadalti
authors: YD
authors: Fragoso
authors: Ricardo Menon
authors: RM
authors: Nosé
authors: Regina Aidar Menon
authors: RA
authors: Nosé
authors: Walton
authors: W
authors: Nosé
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: Vieira
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Finkelsztejn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014792:Visual Acuity