Vision-related quality of life in corneal graft recipients

AimsTo assess the vision-related quality of life of corneal transplant recipients using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (NEI VFQ-25), and to identify the socio-demographic factors that associate with patients' self-assessment of perceived visual function.MethodsThirty patients who received corneal transplants were included in this prospective observational, cross-sectional study. Socio-demographic and clinical data, including age, sex, systemic health status, employment status, visual acuity, reason of corneal transplantation, laterality of corneal graft, and follow-up period were collected. NEI VFQ-25 was scored using Rasch analysis. Subgroup analyses were also performed.ResultsAge, sex, visual acuity, and health status had no significant correlation or association with the Rasch-transformed score. Patients who received bilateral corneal grafts were significantly less able socioemotionally than those with unilateral graft. Patients who became unemployed or retired after transplantation were also significantly less able in both visual functioning and socioemotional status.ConclusionCorneal transplant recipients had a decreased vision-related quality of life as demonstrated by the NEI VFQ-25. Apart from anatomical success and visual acuity, ophthalmologists should also consider other aspects of visual outcome. In particular, those who received bilateral grafts require more attention. Employment programmes should be part of corneal transplantation rehabilitation planning.     

单眼和双眼Symfony人工晶状体植入术后生活质量的比较

目的：比较接受双眼Symfony连续视程人工晶状体(intraocular lens,IOL)植入与接受单眼Symfony连续视程IOL植入而另一眼非球面单焦点IOL植入患者术后的生活质量。

方法：采用以人群为基础的横断面研究。以美国国家眼科研究所研制开发的视功能调查问卷(the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire-25,NEI VFQ-25)对研究对象的术后视功能相关生活质量(vision-related quality of life,vision-related QoL)进行评价。收集2017-03/2018-03行白内障超声乳化吸除联合IOL植入术的患者30例60眼,按照植入IOL类型分为两组,双眼植入TECNIS Symfony连续视程人工晶状体(ZXR00)为双眼组(18例36眼),一眼植入TECNIS Symfony连续视程人工晶状体(ZXR00),另一眼植入非球面单焦点IOL(PCB00)为单眼组(12例24眼)。术后3～6mo进行随访,主要观察指标为双眼远、中、近裸眼视力和生活质量调查问卷。

结果：双眼组和单眼组术后双眼裸眼远、中、近视力比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。两组患者术后NEI VFQ-25问卷总评分(88.95±4.01 vs 88.99±4.22分)比较,差异无统计学意义(t=-0.025,P=0.980)。12个维度的评分结果对比显示,两组患者术后与视觉相关的各个方面生活质量差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。

结论：双眼植入ZXR00或一眼植入ZXR00,另一眼植入PCB00的患者均具有良好的双眼全程视力。两组患者的术后生活质量无差异。对一眼已行单焦点IOL植入的患者或一眼不适合装多焦点人工晶状体的患者,可行另一眼Symfony连续视程IOL植入以满足患者脱镜需求。     

Driving habits and health-related quality of life in patients with age-related maculopathy.

PURPOSE: To characterize the driving habits of persons with age-related maculopathy who present to a low-vision rehabilitation clinic and to examine how driving status relates to vision-specific health-related quality of life. METHODS: The Driving Habits Questionnaire, the National Eye Institute Vision Function Questionnaire-25, and the Life Space Questionnaire were administered via telephone interview to 126 patients with age-related maculopathy who presented to a low-vision clinic during the previous year and were either past or current drivers. RESULTS: Twenty-four percent of the sample reported being a current driver. Compared with those who stopped driving, current drivers were more likely to be male, younger, have better visual acuity and higher National Eye Institute Vision Function Questionnaire-25 scores. Drivers reported driving an average of 4 days and 10 miles per week. Over 50% of drivers reported that because of their vision, they had difficulty with or did not drive at all in rain, at night, on freeways or interstate highways, in heavy traffic areas, or during rush hour. Drivers and nondrivers did not differ in their life space, the spatial extent of their excursions into their environment. CONCLUSION: Some individuals who present to a low-vision clinic with age-related maculopathy do drive, although their driving exposure is low and they report avoiding challenging on-road situations. Driving status in age-related maculopathy appears to be related to better eye visual acuity and vision-specific health-related quality of life.     

What is New at Ophthalmic Epidemiology

Purpose: To compare the differences in vision and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of individuals with ocular and non-ocular sarcoidosis; and to examine the impact of specific demographic and clinical factors on the noted differences.

Methods: A cross-sectional study using non-randomized prospective cohort was conducted at the National Eye Institute (protocol number: 06-EI-0239, NCT00379275) from August 31, 2006 until November 15, 2007. Each participant completed vision and HRQOL questionnaires, the Sarcoidosis Health Questionnaire (SHQ) and the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ), along with a demographic/environmental exposure survey. Clinical data were collected through an ophthalmic exam as part of the research protocol.

Results: The study enrolled 75 biopsy-proven and 20 clinically presumed sarcoidosis participants which were divided into two cohorts, ocular (N?=?60) and non-ocular groups (N?=?35). The ocular group had significantly lower (P?P?P?=?0.03).

Conclusions: Ocular involvement impacts both overall and vision-related quality of life among sarcoidosis patients. Lower economic status appears to have a significant impact on the quality of life of sarcoidosis patients. Assessment of visual function and general health status provide pertinent information for individuals with sarcoidosis and should be included in their care to assess burden of their disease on their quality of life.     

Ocular findings at autopsy of child abuse victims

The incidence of retinal hemorrhage in child abuse victims was studied in cadavers of children that underwent autopsy in the Los Angeles County Coroner's office. One hundred ninety consecutive cases of childrens' eyes received at Doheny Eye Institute from 1985 to 1989 were included in the study. Retinal hemorrhage is the most common form of eye damage due to child abuse and is more likely to occur in infants who have been shaken than after blunt trauma to the head. Accordingly, retinal involvement is seen more frequently in younger children. The mechanism of retinal hemorrhage is unknown, but the authors' evidence suggests that it is not a direct result of submeningeal hemorrhage. The retinal hemorrhages are found most frequently in the bipolar and nerve fiber layers. They may be severe and widespread or small, scattered foci; both forms are indicative of abuse type injury. Any child who is comatose or who has other unexplained neurologic symptoms should have a thorough eye examination with the pupils dilated with emphasis on studies of the retina.     

Quality of life after postoperative endophthalmitis

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine if postoperative endophthalmitis adversely affects quality of life after cataract surgery. Methods: We compared quality of life in patients who developed endophthalmitis after cataract surgery between 1 January and 31 December 2003 with those who had uncomplicated surgery. The National Eye Institute VFQ‐25 (VFQ‐25) and EuroQol EQ‐5D (EQ‐5D) questionnaires and time trade‐off utility scores were used to compare self‐perceived general health and vision‐related quality of life between groups. Linear regression was used to model differences between groups after adjusting for age, gender and visual acuity in the better eye. Results: Nineteen postoperative endophthalmitis cases were compared with 30 who had uncomplicated cataract surgery. Following surgery the mean composite VFQ‐25 score was 13.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.0–26.4, P < 0.01) lower in endophthalmitis cases. Endophthalmitis patients reported significantly lower (P < 0.05) general vision, near vision, peripheral vision, mental health and role difficulties subscales scores after adjusting for age, sex and visual acuity. No significant differences were found in other subscales. Mean time trade‐off utility and all EQ‐5D scores were similar except for mobility (95% CI: 0.04–0.68, P < 0.05). Conclusions: Endophthalmitis after cataract surgery negatively impacts on self‐perceived vision‐related quality of life, resulting in poorer psychological well‐being and ability to maintain a role in daily life.     

Frequency of ocular metastases in patients dying of cancer in eye bank populations.

AIMS: To examine the frequency of intraocular metastases in patients who had died of cancer, in an eye bank and necropsy population sample. METHODS: The first group included 302 cancer cases received from the Wisconsin Eye Bank between 1988 and 1993. In the second group, ocular pathology records at the Wilmer Institute from 1976 to 1980 were analysed for ocular metastases in necropsy subjects dying of cancer. Nonocular cancer was the cause of death in 741 cases; among these, 510 were attributed to carcinomas. RESULTS: In the Wisconsin Eye Bank group, three cases (1%) had gross metastases. Out of 255 carcinoma cases, one (0.4%) had gross metastases. In the Wilmer Institute group, gross metastases were observed in 35 (4.7%) cases. Of the 510 patients dying of carcinomas, six (1.2%) had macroscopic metastases. Ocular metastases were detected histopathologically in 93 of 741 (12.6%) of cases. CONCLUSION: Even though it is difficult to assess the true frequency of ocular metastases in patients dying of cancer, the answer to this question was attempted by determining the frequency of ocular metastasis in patients who died of cancer and who donated their eyes to the Wisconsin Eye Bank or had postmortem examination at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Microscopic metastases were found in 12.6% of cases. The frequency of gross metastases has decreased over the past 12 years from 4.7% to 1% (p value = 0.005) owing to improved treatment of leukaemia; however, the frequency of macroscopic metastases due to carcinomas has not changed (p value = 0.38).     

Measuring low vision service outcomes: Rasch analysis of the seven-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire.

PURPOSE: To describe a short, functional visual disability instrument capable of measuring the outcomes of a government funded country-wide multicenter low vision service in Wales and to determine if postal implementation might lead to response bias. METHODS: Seven items from the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ), which have previously been shown to be responsive to low vision service intervention, were incorporated into a postal questionnaire which was given to patients before they attended the all Wales Low Vision Service. Rasch analysis was used to describe the instrument's psychometric properties. RESULTS: Rasch analysis of 490 completed questionnaires showed that all seven questions worked together to form a unidimensional scale. By combining the first two response categories, category utilization and targeting was improved. There were no significant differences in the age (p = 0.29), gender (p = 0.75), distance binocular Visual Acuity (VA; p = 0.86), living situation (p = 0.34) or prevalence of macular degeneration (p = 0.31) between those who returned a completed questionnaire and those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: The seven-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire is an appropriate and precise outcome measure that is acceptable to patients and easy to administer. It measures aspects of near, reading, and distance visual disability that have been shown to be amenable to low vision service provision and, therefore, it should be highly responsive to this intervention and facilitate inter-service assessment. We found no evidence to suggest that postal implementation results in response bias. The instrument is an appropriate measure of patient based outcomes for a large-scale, multicenter low vision service.     

Role of primary and stepwise prosthetic replacement in the rehabilitation of subjects with anophthalmos

The study covered 1980 patients with anophthalmos and a cosmetically poor blind eye, who were followed up in the ocular prosthesis room, Helmgoltz Institute of Eye Diseases. The optimal periods of primary and stepwise prosthetic replacement are defined and standard ocular prostheses of the most appropriate shape and size are recommended depending on the specific features of the conjunctival cavity and stump in this period. Recommendations are given on the application of ocular prostheses in congenital pathology and subatrophy.     

Amblyopia & Strabismus Questionnaire: design and initial validation

Literature on the benefits of screening and treatment of amblyopia emphasizes the costs of insufficiently treated amblyopic patients who lose their better eye. However, patients with insufficiently treated amblyopia and strabismus who do not lose their better eye only experience a slight decrease in their quality of life, and such patients occur more frequently. We designed and validated a questionnaire for amblyopia and strabismus in order to assess the decrease in quality of life of such patients. Complaints were collected from outpatients and reduced to five domains, pertaining to distance estimation, visual disorientation, problems with social contacts and cosmetic problems, diplopia, and fear of losing the better eye. For these domains 26 questions were formulated that constitute the Amblyopia & Strabismus Questionnaire (A&SQ). The A&SQ, the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (VFQ-25) and the Short Form-12 Health Survey (SF-12) were presented to 53 healthy controls, 68 outpatients and a cohort of 174 outpatients born between 1962 and 1972 and treated between 1968 and 1974 for amblyopia and strabismus. The quality of life was best in healthy controls and worst in current outpatients, not only on the SF-12 and the VFQ-25 but also on the A&SQ, demonstrating an acceptable construct validity of the A&SQ. The decrease in the quality of life as measured by the A&SQ was most outspoken in our outpatient group of amblyopia and strabismus patients, less in the cohort that had been treated 30 years previously and least in the healthy controls, demonstrating an acceptable discriminatory validity of the A&SQ.     

眼肌运动障碍性双眼复视患者视觉相关生活质量分析

目的：评估眼肌运动障碍性双眼复视患者的视觉相关生活质量。方法：回顾性系列病例研究。采用25项美国国家眼科研究所视觉功能问卷调查( NEI-VFQ-25)中文版对2013-10/2016-03就诊于湖州师范学院附属第一医院眼科的112例眼肌运动障碍性双眼复视患者的视觉相关生活质量进行评定。结果：眼肌运动障碍性双眼复视患者的视觉相关的生活质量,包括一般健康状态、总体视觉情况、近距离工作、远距离工作、社交功能、精神健康状态、社会角色限制、独立性、驾驶和周边视野等方面评分均较正常人明显降低,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05),但在眼痛及色觉方面差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论：眼肌运动障碍性双眼复视严重影响患者的视觉相关生活质量。在临床治疗中,应当重视双眼复视患者的视觉相关生活质量评价。     

Quality of Life Assessment in Ocular Toxoplasmosis in a Colombian Population

Objective: To assess the quality of life in patients with ocular toxoplasmosis.

Methods: The participants were 29 otherwise healthy patients with retinochoroidal lesions consistent with Toxoplasma infection. The controls were 29 gender and age-matched people with normal visual function who came from the same socioeconomic and educational background as the participants. The authors used the version of the National Eye Institute 25-item visual function questionnaire (NEI VFQ25).

Results: Patients with ocular toxoplasmosis had statistically significant lower scores than controls for all the subscales, except for color vision. Patients with bilateral lesions were more affected in the mental health, difficulties role, and specific vision subscales. The median of the compound score for the participants was 79 (range 35–99) and for the controls was 95 (range 72–98).

Conclusions: People with ocular toxoplasmosis have worse vision-related quality of life than people without the condition, especially if they have bilateral lesions and more recurrences.     

Pattern reversal retinal potentials in ocular hypertensives at high and low risk of developing glaucoma

The human pattern-reversal retinal potential (PRRP) is a bioelectrical response which reflects neural activity generated in the proximal retina. Visual diseases which affect the retinal ganglion cells and the optic nerve often produce significant reductions in the amplitude of the PRRP. PRRP amplitude reductions are frequently observed in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. This investigation was designed to determine whether patients with ocular hypertension who are at risk of developing glaucoma also exhibit PRRP amplitude reductions. The results indicate that PRRP amplitude reductions do occur in some ocular hyptertensives, but many other ocular hypertensives do not exhibit PRRP abnormalities.Supported in part by Research Grant EY 04464 from the National Eye Institute.     

Menkes' syndrome: ophthalmic findings

PURPOSE: To report the prevalence and clinical significance of ocular findings in 20 patients with Menkes' syndrome recruited for a clinical trial at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHHD). DESIGN: Retrospective observational case series. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty patients with Menkes' syndrome enrolled in a clinical trial at the NICHHD, who underwent ophthalmic evaluation at the National Eye Institute from 1990 through 1997. METHODS: Review of clinical ophthalmic examination records, photographs, and visual evoked potential recordings. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of ophthalmic signs of unusual frequency in patients with Menkes' syndrome. RESULTS: There was a high prevalence of very poor visual acuity (8 patients), myopia at 21 months old or younger (5 of 9 patients this age who underwent cycloplegic refraction), strabismus (11 of 18 patients whose motility was evaluated), blue irides (15 of 16 patients whose iris color was documented), iris stromal hypoplasia and bilateral peripheral transillumination (7 and 3 patients, respectively), peripheral retinal hypopigmentation (7 of 18 patients whose retinal periphery was noted at the initial examination), and aberrant eyelashes (5 patients). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with Menkes' syndrome exhibit a high prevalence of several ocular findings, including some (very poor visual acuity, myopia, strabismus) that may warrant special care. Early ocular examination is thus indicated for patients with Menkes' syndrome, particularly those with mild variants of the disease, whose neurologic status is better and lifespan is longer.     

Low vision services in South Devon: a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary approach.

Since 1994, the Low Vision Service in South Devon has been provided by a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary team. The team comprises of staff from Devon Social Services Sensory Team, Optima Low Vision Services Ltd, Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) Manor House, Devon and Torbay Special Education Services and South Devon Healthcare Trust. In the 9 years of operation this service has been independently audited twice for patient satisfaction levels and compliance level in the use of low vision aids (LVAs). The results of the most recent service audit questionnaire reveal a high and constant patient satisfaction level with 92% of patients who answered the question reporting that the service was sufficient to meet their needs. The number of patients who used LVAs at least weekly was 88% of those answering the question. Plans for the future expansion of the service include the further development of interdisciplinary working.     

The Differential Diagnosis of Posterior Uveal Melanoma

Two large studies from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) have listed the various lesions which may clinically resemble malignant melanomas of the posterior uvea (pseudomelanomas). The studies from the AFIP were based upon histologic examination of eyes which were enucleated. The present study reports on 400 consecutive patients who were referred to an ocular oncology center with the diagnosis of posterior uveal melanoma but who proved, by clinical evaluation, rather than by enucleation, to have a pseudomelanoma. Although about 40 different conditions were found to simulate melanoma, the more commonly encountered ones included suspicious choroidal nevus (26.5%), disciform degeneration (12.5%), peripheral disciform degeneration (11%), congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (9.5%), and choroidal, hemangioma (8%). The authors believe that this series provides the clinician with a differential diagnosis for posterior uveal melanomas which accurately reflects the clinical problem confronting ophthalmologists today.     

Changes in the quality-of-life of people with keratoconus

PURPOSE: The Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus Study (CLEK) previously showed that people with keratoconus report significantly impaired vision-related quality-of-life (V-QoL), as measured on the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ), similar to that of people who have severe macular degeneration. For this study, we evaluated changes that occurred in V-QoL over seven years of follow-up. DESIGN: In this prospective cohort study of 1,166 participants followed up for seven years, we estimated change in V-QoL by projecting the slope of a minimum of three reports on 11 scales of the NEI-VFQ. Correlation with clinical indicators was evaluated, and differences were assessed between those who had clinically significant changes in clinical factors and those who did not. Logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with a decline in 10 points or more in a scale score over seven years. RESULTS: All scales showed modest decline except ocular pain and mental health. Baseline factors were not associated with longitudinal change in NEI-VFQ scores. A 10-letter decline in high-contrast binocular visual acuity or a 3.00-diopter increase in corneal curvature were associated with significantly larger declines in V-QoL. In multivariate analysis, these factors also were found to be associated with a 10-point decline in NEI-VFQ scale scores. CONCLUSIONS: Keratoconus is associated with significantly impaired V-QoL that continues to decline over time. For a substantial plurality of patients, these declines are significant.     

Mathematical optimization of glaucoma visual field screening protocols

There is potential for significantly shortening the time required for visual field screening protocols by a precise specification of the number, exact location, and sequence of points to be tested. Through statistical and mathematical methods, protocols have been developed for maximizing the probability of detecting at least one visual field defect in a subject who is a risk for early glaucomatous field loss. The mathematical formulation was derived in a generalized manner so that it could be applied to most kinetically or statically determined visual field screening methods.This study was supported by the National Library of Medicine Graduate Research Training Grant 1 T15 LM 07008-01 BLR from the National Institutes of Health and by Public Health Service Grants EY 00336 and EY 01867 from the National Eye Institute.     

Spontaneous Extrusion of Subconjunctival Cysticercosis

We report on a case of subconjunctival cysticercosis in a patient who presented with redness on the medial side, fever, and pain and swelling on the inside of the right eye. There was no diplopia, restriction of ocular movements in any gaze or diminution of vision. Cyst excision was scheduled and oral albendazole was administered. However, the cyst extruded spontaneously prior to surgery. Dr. Reddy is a Senior Resident, Dr. Raj is a Resident, and Dr. Maurya is a Reader and Former Head, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University. The authors have stated that they do not have a significant financial interest or other relationship with any product manufacturer or provider of services discussed in this article. The authors do not discuss the use of off-label products, which includes unlabeled, unapproved, or investigative products or devices. The authors report on a case of subconjunctival cysticercosis in a patient who presented with redness on the medial side, fever, and pain and swelling on the inside of the right eye. Spontaneous extrusion occurred following treatment with oral albendazole and steroids.