Gradually Then Suddenly? Decline in Vision-Related Quality of Life as Glaucoma Worsens.

ABSTRACT: Purpose. To evaluate the relationship between self-reported vision-related quality of life (VRQL) and visual field (VF) loss in people from glaucoma clinics. Methods. A postal survey using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) was administered to people with a range of VF loss identified from a UK hospital-based glaucoma service database. Trends were assessed in a composite score from NEI VFQ-25 against better-eye mean deviation (BEMD) using linear regression and a spline-fitting method that can highlight where a monotonic relationship may have different stages. Results. A total of 636 patients (median [interquartile range] BEMD -2.1 [-5.2, -0.4] dB, median age 70 [60, 77] years) were analysed. Analysis of trends in the data revealed an average patient loses approximately 2?units (out of 100) on NEI VFQ-25 for every loss of 1?dB (BEMD) as VF defects first become bilateral, up to BEMD -5?dB. NEI VFQ-25 deterioration then appears to slow before a more rapid phase of change (4-5?units per 1?dB loss) after BEMD worsens beyond -15?dB. Conclusions. Relationship between decline in VRQL and VF worsening in glaucoma is unlikely to be linear; it more likely has different phases, and these should be further explored in longitudinal studies.

SUBMITTER: Jones L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5392404 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature