title: Assessment of vision-related quality of life among patients with cataracts and the outcomes of cataract surgery using a newly developed visual function questionnaire: the VFQ-J11.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) and associated factors in patients with cataracts and the outcomes of cataract surgery using the newly developed VRQoL instrument: the visual function questionnaire, 11-item Japanese version (the VFQ-J11).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 457 patients scheduled for cataract surgery at 12 clinical sites from November 2008 through February 2010 were included in the study. The patients completed the VFQ-J11 before and 3 months after surgery. The VFQ-J11 was used to investigate factors associated with VRQoL of the cataract patients, the outcome of cataract surgery, and the predictors of improved VRQoL due to cataract surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a multiple regression model, the VFQ-J11 score was significantly associated with corrected distance visual acuity in the better-seeing eye (better eye VA), and improvement in the VFQ-J11 score after cataract surgery was associated not only with improvement in the better eye VA, but also with improvement in the worse eye VA. Compared to one-eye cataract surgery, both-eyes surgery had a greater impact on VFQ-J11 score improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The VFQ-J11 is a good measure of VRQoL in cataract patients. The present study indicates that by including the domains measured in the VFQ, the VFQ-J11 can provide valid data on VRQoL and be less of a burden for patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Welfare Services, National Institute of Public Health, 2-3-6 Minami, Wako, Saitama, 351-0197, Japan, yoshi-h@tkf.att.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Yoshimune
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hiratsuka
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akune
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Annabelle A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamagishi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Shunichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukuhara
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019591:Pseudophakia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology