Purpose
To simplify the calculation and interpretation of the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) score, we developed an original iPad program. The NEI VFQ-25 has a proven utility in assessing vision-related quality of life to guide medical management.
Methods
We chose FileMaker Pro 12 and FileMaker Go 12 for iPad as database applications because these software programs allow us to modify the database by dragging new elements into layouts, screens, and forms. We developed an original iPad program that preserves the integrity and content of the master NEI VFQ-25.
Results
We successfully created a multifunctional iPad program with FileMaker Go 12. The following are features of the program: 1) touch-screen selection of answers for ease of patient use, 2) maintenance of patient confidentiality, 3) safeguards to prevent input omission, 4) automatic calculations of subscale and total scores, 5) comparison of results to controls (2,329 middle-aged and older individuals) 6) graphic depiction of data 7) immediate feedback to patient of printed analyzed data 8) ability to format results as comma-separated values for advanced analytic software.
Conclusions
We produced an original iPad program for the NEI VFQ-25 that we believe will increase efficiency and precision of evaluating subjective visual outcomes.