Visual function quality of life measure changes upon conversion to neovascular age-related macular degeneration in second eyes

Yannis M. Paulus, Joan L. Jefferys, Barbara S. Hawkins, Adrienne W. Scott

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To determine changes in quality of life measures when choroidal neovascularization (CNV) developed in the second eye of patients with initially unilateral neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: We analyzed responses to the 39-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ), 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at baseline, and prior to and following second eye CNV diagnosis in 92 participants enrolled in two Submacular Surgery Trials. Paired t-tests for sample sizes over 30 and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests for sample sizes <30 were performed to compare scores. Results: CNV development resulted in statistically and clinically significant changes in responses to 20 of 39 NEI-VFQ items, indicating visual function decline during a mean interval of 25 months. Little difference was noted between baseline scores and prior to CNV diagnosis, which averaged 8.9 months duration. Subscales demonstrated a statistically significant decline in general vision, near activities, distance activities, social functioning, role difficulties, dependency, and driving. There were minimal changes in the HADS and SF-36 scales. Conclusion: CNV development in the second eye had a dramatic effect on visual functioning based on patient responses to the NEI-VFQ questionnaire. Our investigation is believed to be the first study using data collected prospectively to demonstrate vision-related quality of life changes that resulted from development of CNV in AMD patients.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2139-2151
Number of pages13
JournalQuality of Life Research
Volume26
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2017

Keywords

  • Age-related macular degeneration
  • Choroidal neovascularization
  • National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire
  • Quality of Life
  • Second eyes
  • Submacular Surgery Trials

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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