Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: Amblyopia is defined as impairment of vision due to the interruption of normal visual development. The visual function questionnaire VF–14 is a well recognised and widely used tool, originally designed to assess visual function following cataract surgery. It is a measure of functional capacity related to vision, based on 14 vision dependant every day activities. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of the VF–14 questionnaire between a group of 16–18 year old teenagers with amblyopia and age matched controls with normal vision. Methods: Patients were selected from a database of amblyopes who previously attended the ophthalmology department. Age matched controls were selected from pupils at local secondary schools. The controls had no previous ocular treatment and a minimum best corrected visual acuity of 6/6 in each eye. All subjects completed the VF–14 questionnaire by postal survey and had best correcetd visual acuity (VA) assessment. For validation; half of the patients and controls completed the questionnaire twice . Results: 120 controls and 120 patients completed the questionnaire. 60 subjects in each group completed the questionniare twice within a one month period. The mean VF–14 score for the control group was 95.5 (range 86.4 to 100) and for the patients was 78.9 (range 61.4 to 93.2), (p<0.0001). There was only a weak correlation between the VF–14 score and VA in the worse eye within the patient group (r =0.42, p<0.0001). Bland–Altman analysis of the repeat measurements showed good limits of agreement; ± 2.6 for the patient group and ± 2.4 for the controls. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge this is the first reported use of VF–14 questionnaire in patients with amblyopia. The results show reproducible data and there was good correlation between the VF–14 score and whether the subject belongs to the patient or control group. There was poor correlation between the VF–14 score and the level of amblyopia within the patient group.
Keywords: amblyopia • quality of life • screening for ambylopia and strabismus