National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS): AREDS Report No. 10.

Publication Type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2003
Authors
Clemons, Traci E; Chew, Emily Y; Bressler, Susan B; McBee, Wendy; Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group
Secondary
Arch Ophthalmol
Volume
121
Pagination
211-7
Date Published
2003 Feb
Keywords
Aged; Aged, 80 and over; cataract; Female; Health Status; Humans; Macular Degeneration; Male; Middle Aged; National Institutes of Health (U.S.); quality of life; Reproducibility of Results; Sickness Impact Profile; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; Vision Screening; Vision, Low; visual acuity
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To describe the vision-targeted, health-related quality of life, measured with the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ), in patients with age-related macular degeneration, cataract, or reduced visual acuity; to determine the relationship between the NEI-VFQ subscale scores and clinical measures of visual function; and to assess the internal consistency and reliability of the NEI-VFQ subscales.

DESIGN: The 39-item NEI-VFQ was administered at the 5-year clinic visit to 4077 Age-Related Eye Disease Study participants.

RESULTS: The subscales of the NEI-VFQ had moderate to high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.58-0.91). The NEI-VFQ scores for participants with advanced age-related macular degeneration in 1 or both eyes, severe nuclear opacity, reduced visual acuity, or cataract surgery generally were lower than scores for disease-free participants (P<.001).

CONCLUSION: These findings support the use of the NEI-VFQ as a measure of vision-targeted, health-related quality of life among patients with age-related macular degeneration, cataract, or reduced visual acuity.