VISUAL FUNCTION AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE AMONG PATIENTS WITH GLAUCOMA

This study determines the relation between visual field impairment, vi sual functioning, and global quality of life in patients with glaucoma , Binocular visual field impairment was calculated from simultaneous E sterman visual field testing using the Humphrey automated perimeter. V isual acuity impairment, defined with the American Medical Association 's Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment; visual functionin g, measured with the VF-14 and the field test version of the National Eye Institute-Visual Functioning Questionnaire; and global quality of life, assessed with the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Heal th Survey, were determined in 147 consecutive patients with glaucoma. None of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey do mains demonstrated more than a weak correlation with visual field impa irment. The VF-14 scores were moderately correlated (r=-0.58). Of the National Eye Institute-Visual Functioning Questionnaire scales, periph eral vision (r=-0.60), distance activities (r=-0.56), and vision-speci fic dependency (r=-0.56) were moderately correlated with visual field impairment; vision-specific social functioning, near activities, visio n-specific role difficulties, general vision, vision-specific mental h ealth, color vision, and driving were modestly correlated with visual field impairment (r value between -0.32 and -0.55); visual pain was we akly correlated with visual field impairment; and general health and v ision-specific expectations were not notably correlated with visual fi eld impairment. Statistically adjusting for visual acuity weakened the correlations, The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Su rvey indicated that our patients with glaucoma were comparable with pr eviously studied patients without severe systemic medical problems. Ho wever, the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey sco res did not correlate with visual field impairment in our study. Based on the moderate correlation between binocular visual field impairment with the VF-14 and the National Eye Institute-Visual Functioning Ques tionnaire, these questionnaires may be useful among patients with glau coma.