Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the vision-related quality of life (VR-QOL) in patients undergoing vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane (ERM) removal and to investigate the relationship between VR-QOL and the severity of pre-/postoperative metamorphopsia.
Methods: :
The 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) was self-administered by 28 patients (age, 66.7 ± 8.5 years, mean ± SD) with ERM before and 3 months after vitrectomy. Preoperative and postoperative clinical data were collected, including logMAR best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), letter contrast sensitivity, central macular thickness, and severity of metamorphopsia. The VFQ-25 was also measured in 26 age-matched normal controls.
Results: :
The preoperative VFQ-25 composite score was significantly lower in ERM patients than in normal controls (P < 0.0001). Vitrectomy significantly improved VFQ-25 composite score as well as scores of 10 out of 12 subscales (P < 0.0001), except for general health and peripheral vision. The postoperative VFQ-25 composite score in ERM patients, however, remained significantly lower than that in normal controls (P < 0.0001). The preoperative VFQ-25 composite score significantly correlated with the severity of preoperative metamorphopsia (P < 0.05) but not with preoperative logMAR BCVA, letter contrast sensitivity, and central macular thickness. The postoperative VFQ-25 composite score significantly correlated with the degree of postoperative metamorphopsia and logMAR BCVA (P < 0.05). The changes in VFQ-25 composite score significantly correlated with changes in the severity of metamorphopsia (P < 0.05), but not with other parameters.
Conclusions: :
VR-QOL is significantly impaired in patients with ERM, which is remarkably improved by vitrectomy. The severity of metamorphopsia strongly influences VR-QOL in patients with ERM.
Keywords: vitreoretinal surgery