Abstract
Purpose: :
Macular edema (ME) following retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is a common cause of monocular vision loss. Thus, vision loss in RVO often occurs in the worse-seeing eye (WSE). To assess the HRQL and visual functioning in patients with WSE vision loss due to ME following branch or central RVO compared to U.S. population norms.
Methods: :
Two generic and one vision-targeted HRQL measures [SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36), EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D), and the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25)] were administered at baseline in 2 multicenter, masked, randomized, sham-controlled trials of dexamethasone intravitreal implant (OZURDEXTM). SF-36 and EQ-5D scores were compared to general U.S. general population scores from the National Health Medical Survey (NHMS) (n = 2426); VFQ-25 scores were compared with published scores from a normal vision reference group (n = 122). Analyses were performed for all patients and for WSE study-eye patients.
Results: :
1,171 patients completed the measures at baseline and were included for analysis (BRVO: n = 753; CRVO: n = 418). Mean age was 65 years; 54% were male; 78% were white; and study-eye baseline mean visual acuity was 54 letters (20/80). The study eye was WSE for 97%. All patients and WSE study-eye patients had significantly lower SF-36 mental component scores (P < .001) and role-physical (P < .001), role-emotional (P < .001), and mental health (P < .001) scores compared to NHMS norms. No difference was observed for EQ-5D score. Compared to the normal vision group, total and WSE study-eye patients reported significantly more impaired scores on all VFQ-25 subscales (P < .05) and for 7 subscales differences exceeded 10 points.
Conclusions: :
Compared to population norms or normal vision reference groups, monocular vision loss due to ME following RVO results in meaningful reductions in multiple dimensions of HRQL. These impairments in HRQL remained even in patients whose affected eye was their WSE.
Clinical Trial: :
www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT 00168298, 00168324
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications