title: Quality of life in patients with age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life in persons affected by age-related macular degeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed in the Clinic of Ophthalmology, Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. A total of 140 patients completed the Visual Functioning Questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) during this prospective study. The patients were divided into two groups: patients with age-related macular degeneration (70 patients) and control patients (70 patients).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference in the quality of life between groups (P<0.0001). Analyzing patients with age-related macular degeneration within the group (patients with monocular or binocular disorders), significant differences in near vision (P=0.003), far vision (P=0.04), color vision (P=0.01), and social functioning (P=0.02) were observed. Mental health (r=0.326, P=0.02), dependency (r=0.340, P=0.02), and role difficulties (r=0.355, P=0.01) were found to be significantly associated with general vision in the age-related macular degeneration group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age-related macular degeneration appeared to have a great impact on the quality of life. General vision impairment caused by age-related macular degeneration affects patient's mental health, dependency, and role difficulties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Šiaudvytytė
authors.forename: Dovilė
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mitkutė
authors.forename: Jūratė
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balčiūnienė
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014785:Vision, Ocular