Abstract
Purpose::
To determine whether the acquisition of eyeglasses in American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) populations will improve quality of life, as measured by the National Eye Institute-Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25).
Methods::
We randomly selected AIAN participants 40 years of age and older from the Pacific Northwest. We administered the NEI-VFQ-25 and measured presenting visual acuity with Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) charts and/or Snellen visual acuity measurements. Participants whose distance vision was 20/40 or worse and whose manifest refraction improved vision by two or more lines were provided with eyeglasses (Treatment group). We then repeated administration of the NEI VFQ-25 within 3 months in both the treatment group and in a control group (whose manifest refraction showed no need for further correction). We used the Kruskal-Wallis H test, T test, and Wilcoxon Ranked Sign test to determine statistical differences in NEI-VFQ-25 overall and subscale scores, as applicable.
Results::
We include 77 participants (12 in treatment group; 65 in control group). The initial composite mean score for the treatment group was 72.5 (+ 18.0) and 85.7 (+ 17.5) for the control group (p< 0.05). We found statistically significant differences (p< 0.05) between the groups in initial VFQ scores in 8 of 12 subsets and in the overall composite score. The mean follow-up composite scores for the treatment group improved after treatment to 93.4 (+ 16.7), while the control group scores remained similar in all categories except Ocular Pain and the composite score. The treatment group showed significantly greater improvement over time than the control group in 8 of 12 subsets and in the overall composite score (p< 0.05).
Conclusions::
The provision of eyeglasses in AIAN resulted in significantly improved NEI VFQ-25 score, while scores for those who needed no additional correction remained generally stable over time. One can improve vision-related quality of life in AIAN when eyeglasses are provided.
Keywords: quality of life • visual acuity