Purpose
To evaluate quality of life in geriatric population with glaucoma using the spanish translation of the Glaucoma Quality of Life (GQL-15) and its correlation with visual field damage, visual acuity and demographic factors.
Methods
A cross-sectional, prospective study, using survey questionnaires applied by an interviewer correlated with demografic and clinical data from the health file. The SPSS was used for statistical analysis
Results
From 100 patientes of ages between 64 and 95 years, 70% were female and 30% were male. The mean GQL-15 value was 25. 81±10, being the most referred symptom glare and dark adaptation parameters (11.14 ± 4.3), followed by peripheral vision (9.6 ± 4.4), central and near vision (3.67±1.6), and least was outdoor mobility (1.39 ± 1.01). There was as well a relation between severe glaucomatous damage in the visual field which wasnt related with the visual acuity. There was no relation between age, sex, IOP, numbers of drugs used or quality of life
Conclusions
The spanish version of the GQL-15 applied to the geriatric population with glaucoma in Costa Rica shows that the difference in severity of the visual field damage is statistically significant between the different groups and is directly proportional with a decrease in the quality of life. The results are not reproducible using visual acuity only. Using the GLQ-15 adapted to Latin American population may be a useful tool to detect patients with a high-risk for visual field damage, and to evaluate the quality of life in this vulnerable population.
Keywords: 669 quality of life •
760 visual search •
758 visual fields