Cross–Sectional and Longitudinal Assessments of the 25–Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire in Patients With Age–Related Macular Degeneration

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To validate the German version of the 25–item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ–25) in a cross–sectional and longitudinal study with age related macular degeneration (AMD) patients. Methods: We investigated the NEI VFQ–25 scores in 200 patients who attended a clinic in Germany. Patients belonged to one of three severity classes at baseline: 1) early AMD in both eyes (n = 37); 2) late stage AMD in one eye and early stage AMD in the other eye (n = 120); and 3) late stage AMD in both eyes (n =4 3). Results: In the better eye at Month 12, Snellen visual acuity correlated strongly (0.68 < r < 0.82) and significantly (P < 0.0001) with NEI VFQ–25 domains on General Vision, Near Vision, Distance Vision, Driving, Dependency, Social Functioning, and the Composite Score. Visual acuity correlated moderately and significantly with Peripheral Vision (r = 0.45), Role Limitations (r = 0.51), and Mental Health (r = 0.44). Visual acuity correlated modestly or weakly with Color vision (r = 0.28), General Health (r = 0.18), and Ocular Pain (r = 0.14). In the worse eye, visual acuity scores across NEI VFQ–25 components were generally lower and remained moderate for most components. A linear regression model revealed that significant differences (P < 0.05) in mean scores at Month 12 among severity levels of AMD for all NEI VFQ–25 components except for General Health and Ocular Pain. In general, mean changes from baseline to Month 12 were not different within severity group and between severity groups; most patients at Month 12 (89.4%) stayed in the same severity group as that at baseline. Conclusions:Scores on the German version of the NEI VFQ–25 show validity as a measure of vision–related quality of life in patients with age–related macular degeneration.

Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • quality of life • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications