Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: Initial glaucoma diagnosis has negative effects on quality of life (QoL). Glaucoma is asymptomatic in some patients during its early progressive period. With progression to blindness, glaucoma exerts significant QoL effects on the lives of glaucoma patients. The objective of this study was to measure QoL in glaucoma patients in the early progressive phase with increased or greater risk of progression. Methods: Three instruments were self–administered by patients during routine practice and were as follows: the SF–12, NEI VFQ–25, and Modified Glaucoma Symptom Scale (mGSS). Demographics and glaucoma risk factors were also collected from patients. Results: This project included 153 patients from two separate centers. After excluding patients with missing data, a total of 129 patients were available for SF–12 analysis, 153 patients for the NEI VFQ–25 analysis, and 148 for the mGSS analysis. For all three instruments, the scores range from 0 to 100 with higher scores indicating better health. Compared to a U.S. average SF–12 score of 50, the SF–12 physical component score was lower (44.1) for this group of glaucoma patients and the SF–12 mental component score was comparable at 51.9. Of all the NEI VFQ–25 sub–scale scores, the two lowest sub–scale scores for this study group were for general health (57) and general vision (76). Scores for the ocular pain, near activities, distant activites, vision specific (VS) mental health, VS role difficulties, driving, and peripheral vision sub–scales were all in the 80’s while scores for the VS social functioning, VS dependency, and color vision sub–scales were in the 90’s. According to the mGSS, this group of glaucoma patients exhibited the most difficulty with seeing in dark places (score=74), followed by blurry/dim vision (84), halos around light (88), and seeing in daylight (92). Conclusions: Often thought as an asymptomatic disease, these results demonstrate that in the early stages of glaucoma progression, patients perceive changes in their quality of life. Most patients at risk for progression have quality of life effects which have declined from normal ranges. The quality of life effects linked to early progression are important considerations in treatment management.
Keywords: quality of life