title: "Seeing" in NARCOMS: a look at vision-related quality of life in the NARCOMS registry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research on vision-related quality of life (QOL) in multiple sclerosis (MS) is still limited. Tools such as the Visual Functioning Questionnaire-25 (VFQ-25) and the Vision Performance Scale (VPS) facilitate assessments of the severity of visual impairment and its impact on daily life.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this paper is to examine vision-related QOL, comorbid eye conditions, use of visual aids and utilization of eye-care providers in the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) population, and to explore these issues in those with a history of optic neuritis (ON) and diplopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2008, NARCOMS registrants reported on their use of visual aids, the VFQ-25, VPS, history of ON, diplopia, refractive error conditions (REC) and comorbid eye diseases (CED). We conducted regression analyses and correlations between select variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate for the survey was 60.4%. Of the 9107 responders, 66.7% reported visual disability measured by VPS. Of respondents, 43.1% had a history of ON and 38.6% reported prior diplopia. Frequencies of myopia (51.8%), hyperopia (26.6%), and uveitis (3.4%) exceeded those expected for the general population. Mean (SD) VFQ-25 composite score was 82.0 (14.2). A history of ON or diplopia accounted for 9.7% of the variance in the VFQ-25; 90.6% of respondents used glasses or contact lenses. Rates of utilizations of eye-care providers were lower than expected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prior ON, diplopia, REC and CED adversely impact vision-related QOL in MS. Increased utilization of eye-care providers and use of visual aids could improve vision-related QOL in people with MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-0022, USA. asalter@uab.edu
authors.forename: Amber R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Salter
authors.forename: Tuula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tyry
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vollmer
authors.forename: Gary R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Cutter
authors.forename: Ruth Ann
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Marrie
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*