The utility of visual function questionnaire in the assessment of the impact of diabetic retinopathy on vision-related quality of life.

AIMS: To determine whether the Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (VFQ) is a more accurate instrument for assessing vision related quality of life (VRQOL) than visual acuity (VA) in patients with diabetic retinopathy. To compare VRQOL between patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). METHODS: We administered the VFQ and Vision Preference Value Scale (VPVS) to 104 patients. With VPVS as the gold standard in our study, we used Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regression analysis to assess whether VFQ is a more accurate measure of VRQOL than VA. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to assess which VFQ subscales correlated strongly with VPVS. Patients with NPDR and PDR were compared using VFQ. RESULTS: The Pearson's correlation coefficient between VPVS and VFQ was 0.49 (P<0.01) and between VPVS and VA was 0.33 (P<0.01). In multivariable linear models, VFQ explained a higher proportion of the variance in VPVS than VA. The VFQ subscales with the strongest Spearman coefficients to VPVS scores were role differences, near activities, distance activities, mental function and dependence. In these subscales, patients with PDR vsNPDR suffered a 25-30 point loss (100-point scale). CONCLUSIONS: VFQ is a superior measure of VRQOL for patients with diabetic retinopathy because it better captures mental and emotional aspects of the disease as well as visual function. Subjects with PDR vsNPDR suffer significant loss of VRQOL.

Vision-related quality of life in patients with diabetic macular oedema.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of diabetic macular oedema (DME) on the quality of life (QOL) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: The study was a prospective, consecutive, non-comparative case series. An observational study evaluated the quality of vision and vision-specific QOL using the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25). Mean VFQ-25 subscale scores in type 2 diabetic study patients were compared with mean VFQ-25 subscale score in groups of patients with type 1 diabetic retinopathy (T1DR) and varying degrees of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), glaucoma and cataracts and in reference populations. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients completed the NEI VFQ-25. The mean age of the study population was 64 years. When performing a comparison of those patients with DME versus those with isolated T1DR we found that for the general health subscale, the DME versus T1DR group means were 42+/-4.4 versus 61+/-1.0 respectively. The DME versus T1DR quality of vision categorical mean scores were 69+/-4.1 versus 93+/-3.9. The DME versus T1DR VR-QOL categorical mean scores were 62+/-5.0 versus 93+/-1.0. The DME group was significantly worse in each of these three categories compared with the T1DR group (p<0.01). An additional analysis was performed to examine the differences in VR-QOL in the DME group versus varying common ocular diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), glaucoma, cataracts and disease-free reference groups. The mean values of VFQ-25 subscale in the DME group were significantly lower then the glaucoma group in ten of 12 subscales, the cataract group in 11 of 12 subscales, and the reference group in 12 of 12 subscales. However, the mean values of VFQ-25 subscale in the DME group were only significantly different from the ARMD group in three of 12 subscales. CONCLUSIONS: Type 2 diabetes patients with macular oedema experience a decreased VR-QOL compared with type 1 diabetic patients with diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma or cataracts. However, VR-QOL in type 2 diabetic patients with macular oedema was similar to those individuals with ARMD.

Relation of optical coherence tomography and unusual angiographic leakage patterns in central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the anatomic basis of atypical angiographic leaks in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) with optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: Fluorescein angiography (FA) and OCT were performed in three eyes of three patients (two men, one woman) with CSC. The angiographic leaks were treated with transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) in two patients with long-standing CSC. The investigations were repeated in the treated patients during follow-up visits. RESULTS: Clinically, all patients demonstrated typical CSC; the female patient had subretinal fibrin under the detachment. FA showed unusual leakage patterns and OCT revealed bridging tissue connecting the pigment epithelial detachment (PED) to the overlying detached retina in all patients. CSC resolved completely in the two patients who underwent TTT along with normalization of the OCT findings. In one patient re-evaluated before complete resolution of CSC, OCT showed a flattened PED with disappearance of the bridging tissue and persistent serous detachment. FA demonstrated conversion of the previously atypical leak into a classic 'smokestack' configuration. Over the next month, leakage resolved completely. CSC and the anatomical findings persisted in the untreated patient. CONCLUSION: OCT identified a potential anatomic basis for unusual angiographic leakage pattern in all three cases of CSC evaluated.

Dilute topical proparacaine for pain relief after photorefractive keratectomy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to determine whether there is a nonanesthetic and nontoxic concentration of topical proparacaine that can be applied repeatedly to the cornea to reduce pain after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). METHODS: Part I: To determine a nonanesthetic concentration, the corneal sensitivity of 50 healthy volunteers was assessed using aesthesiometry before and after a drop of either 0.01%, 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1%, or 0.2% topical proparacaine. Ten volunteers similarly were tested with multiple doses of 0.05% proparacaine. To evaluate toxicity, ten healthy volunteers self-administered 0.05% proparacaine to one eye and placebo to the other eye every 15 minutes for 12 hours on day 1 and every hour for 12 hours on days 2 through 7. Subjects were assessed throughout the week using visual acuity, slitlamp examination, aesthesiometry, and ultrasonic pachometry. Part II: In a prospective, double-masked study, 34 patients who underwent PRK (48 eyes) self-administered either topical 0.05% proparacaine or placebo for 1 week after PRK as needed to reduce pain. Patients recorded their pain score before and after drop use and answered a pain-relief questionnaire. RESULTS: Part I: Proparacaine concentrations greater than or equal to 0.1% eliminated sensation from some corneas; concentrations of less than or equal to 0.05% were never fully anesthetic. No corneal toxicity was observed except for some minimal punctate staining in both treatment and placebo eyes. Part II: Patients in the treatment group had significantly more pain relief (P < 0.001) for a longer period (P < 0.001) than did patients in the control group. Average change in pain score was significantly greater in the treatment group (P < 0.002). No significant difference in the number of days needed to reach complete epithelial healing was found between the two groups (P < 0.18). CONCLUSIONS: Dilute (0.05%) topical proparacaine is nonanesthetic and nontoxic, and can be used safely for at least 1 week to reduce pain after PRK.