title: Ocular Straylight: A Determinant of Quality of Life in the Elderly?
abstract: Intra-ocular straylight can cause decreased visual functioning, and it may cause diminished vision-related quality of life (VRQOL). This cross-sectional population-based study investigates the association between straylight and VRQOL in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to assess the association between straylight modeled continuously and cutoff at the recommended fitness-to-drive value, straylight ≥ 1.4 log(s), and VRQOL. The study showed that participants with normal straylight values, straylight ≤ 1.4 log(s), rated their VRQOL slightly better than those with high straylight values (straylight ≥ 1.4 log(s)). Furthermore, multivariable regression analysis revealed a borderline statistical significant association (p= .06) between intra-ocular straylight and self-reported VRQOL in middle-aged and elderly individuals. The association between straylight and self-reported VRQOL was not influenced by the status of the intra-ocular lens (natural vs. artificial intra-ocular lens after cataract extraction) or the number of (instrumental) activities of daily living that were reported as difficult for the elderly individuals.
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands; University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sigrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mueller-Schotte
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Yvonne T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: van der Schouw
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands; University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marieke J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schuurmans
keywords: elderly; independent; middle-aged; ocular straylight; vision-related quality of life