[Influence of visual function on quality of life in patients with glaucoma]. / Influencia de la función visual en la calidad de vida de los pacientes con glaucoma.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between visual function objective measures and the perceived quality of life in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension. METHOD: This was a cross-sectional study of quality of life. Patients required knowledge to understand the questionnaire. PERIOD OF STUDY: April-May 2006. SETTING: third level hospital in Madrid. INSTRUMENT: Visual Function Index (VF-14). Visual acuity, computerized perimetry and ophthalmological examination were all performed. RESULTS: 120 questionnaires were distributed, 89.1% were returned completed. Cronbach's alpha was used for data validity and reliability (0.88). 49 patients had ocular hypertension (HTO) and 71 had glaucoma (52.1% men and 47.9% women). The mean health status was 73.9 (SD 24.13; range: 0-100); HTO: 81.4 (SD: 16.3) and glaucoma: 68.69 (SD:22) (p=0.001). These results were significantly correlated with the quality of life and visual acuity (r=0.51), mean deviation (MD) r=0.35, education level (p=0.024), and sex (p=0.031). No significant differences were found in the older groups or for evolution time. CONCLUSIONS: Quality of life measures can be useful in the management of patients with glaucoma, as a moderate relationship was found between quality of life, visual acuity and visual field loss in such patients. The VF-14 seems to discriminate between glaucoma and ocular hypertensive patients.

Influencia de la función visual en la calidad de vida de los pacientes con glaucoma / Influence of visual function on quality of life in patients with glaucoma

Objetivo: Determinar la relación entre las medidas objetivas de la función visual y la percepción de los pacientes de su calidad de vida relacionada con la salud. Métodos: Estudio transversal de evaluación de la calidad de vida en pacientes con glaucoma o hipertensión ocular y con un nivel intelectual suficiente para comprender el cuestionario. Período de estudio: abril-mayo de 2006. Ambito: hospital de tercer nivel de la Comunidad de Madrid. Instrumento: Índice de Función Visual VF-14. Se registró agudeza visual, perimetría computerizada, y exploración oftalmológica completa. Resultados: Se recogieron 120 cuestionarios, en los que el 89,1% lo cumplimentó el propio paciente. Para el análisis de fiabilidad y validez de los datos se uso el índice de fiabilidad alpha de Cronbach (0,88). Cuarenta y nueve pacientes fueron diagnosticados de hipertensión ocular (HTO) y 71 de glaucoma (52,1% hombres y 47,9% mujeres). La valoración media de su calidad de vida fue de 73,9 (DE: 24,13 R: 0-100); HTO: 81,4 (DE: 16,3) y glaucoma 68,69 (DE: 22) (p=0,001). Se han encontrado diferencias del estado de salud en relación con la agudeza visual (r=0,51), defecto campimétrico (r=0,35), nivel de estudios (p=0,024), y sexo (p=0,031). No se observó peor estado de salud en los grupos de mayor edad ni con el tiempo de evolución de la enfermedad. Conclusiones: Las medidas de calidad de vida pueden resultar útiles en la monitorización de los pacientes con glaucoma. Observamos moderada correlación entre agudeza visual, alteración campimétrica y calidad de vida de los pacientes con glaucoma. El VF-14 permite diferenciar entre pacientes con glaucoma e hipertensión ocular

Objective: To determine the relationship between visual function objective measures and the perceived quality of life in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Method: This was a cross-sectional study of quality of life. Patients required knowledge to understand the questionnaire. Period of study: April-May 2006. Setting: third level hospital in Madrid. Instrument: Visual Function Index (VF-14). Visual acuity, computerized perimetry and ophthalmological examination were all performed. Results: 120 questionnaires were distributed, 89.1% were returned completed. Cronbach’s alpha was used for data validity and reliability (0.88). 49 patients had ocular hypertension (HTO) and 71 had glaucoma (52.1% men and 47.9% women). The mean health status was 73.9 (SD 24.13; range: 0-100); HTO: 81.4 (SD: 16.3) and glaucoma: 68.69 (SD:22) (p=0.001). These results were significantly correlated with the quality of life and visual acuity (r=0.51), mean deviation (MD) r=0.35, education level (p=0.024), and sex (p=0.031). No significant differences were found in the older groups or for evolution time. Conclusions: Quality of life measures can be useful in the management of patients with glaucoma, as a moderate relationship was found between quality of life, visual acuity and visual field loss in such patients. The VF-14 seems to discriminate between glaucoma and ocular hypertensive patients (Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol 2008; 83: 249-256)

In vitro adhesion of Staphylococcus epidermidis to intraocular lenses.

PURPOSE: To compare the in vitro adherence of slime-producing and non-slime-producing Staphylococcus epidermidis to different intraocular lenses (IOLs) to study the organism's contribution to postoperative endophthalmitis. METHODS: Strains of slime-positive (ATCC 35984) and slime-negative (ATCC 12228) S epidermidis were used. The IOLs were made of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), PMMA with polypropylene haptics, silicone, hydrogel, acrylic, heparin-surface-modified (HSM) PMMA, and fluorine-surface-modified PMMA. The lenses were incubated overnight with bacteria, then sonicated and vortexed to separate the adhered bacteria. Quantitative cultures were performed and the results statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Slime-negative strains of S epidermidis adhered to all IOLs but at a lower level than slime-positive strains. The most adherent lenses were acrylic with the positive strain and PMMA with the negative strain. The least adherent IOLs were PMMA with the positive strain and hydrogel with the negative strain. There were no significant differences between rigid and foldable lenses. Polypropylene was significantly more adherent than PMMA to the slime-positive strain. The acrylic and the HSM PMMA IOLs were significantly more adherent to the positive strain. CONCLUSIONS: In vitro, there were significant differences in bacterial adhesion among IOL materials. Slime-positive strains of S epidermidis were more adherent than slime-negative ones.