May 2003
Volume 44, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2003
Quality of Life in Patients With Glaucoma: A Conjoint Analysis Approach
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • A. Azuara-Blanco
    Ophthalmology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
  • P.A. Aspinall
    School of the Built Environment, Visual Impairment Research Group, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
  • C. O'Brien
    Ophthalmology, University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
  • P. Nelson
    Ophthalmology, University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
  • L. McCloughan
    Lothian Health Board, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
  • A.R. Hill
    Lothian Health Board, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
  • R. Brice
    Adelphi Group, Bollington, United Kingdom
  • S. Green
    Adelphi Group, Bollington, United Kingdom
  • S. Steeds
    Allergan, High Wycombe, United Kingdom
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  A. Azuara-Blanco, None; P.A. Aspinall, Allergan F; C. O'Brien, None; P. Nelson, None; L. McCloughan, None; A.R. Hill, None; R. Brice, Adelphi E; S. Green, Adelphi E; S. Steeds, Allergan E.
  • Footnotes
    Support  EPSRC, Allergan
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2003, Vol.44, 2204. doi:
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      A. Azuara-Blanco, P.A. Aspinall, C. O'Brien, P. Nelson, L. McCloughan, A.R. Hill, R. Brice, S. Green, S. Steeds; Quality of Life in Patients With Glaucoma: A Conjoint Analysis Approach . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2003;44(13):2204.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To study the quality of life (QOL) of patients with glaucoma using a conjoint analysis approach Methods: A group of 106 patients with chronic glaucoma and visual acuity better than 6/12 were given a battery of tests including visual function (binocular Easterman visual field, Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity), and QOL questionnaires. Included within the latter was choice based conjoint analysis - a way of estimating patient utilities (i.e. values or part worths) associated with different visual outcomes, and the NEI-VFQ. The outcomes were structured into five attributes that emerged following principal component analysis of a vision-related QOL questionnaire given to glaucoma patients. The five attributes - aspects of central and near vision, peripheral vision, darkness and glare, household chores, and outdoor mobility were presented at different levels of difficulty in coping with a set of daily tasks. Results: There was a rank order of importance in which aspects of central vision and outdoor mobility were the highest rated priorities. Although peripheral visual loss characterises the disease, its associated behavioural problems were rated as less important by patients than tasks associated with central vision. While the attribute ‘darkness and glare' was the most frequently reported complaint suffered by the group of patients, its relative importance was much less than that assigned to the other attributes. In general, patient ratings were not linked to age, gender, or acuity level or the results from the NEI-VFQ questionnaire. The importance rating of central vision increased significantly with increasing visual field loss while that of outdoor mobility decreased significantly with increasing field loss. In addition there was evidence for increased priority for ‘glare' as contrast sensitivity decreased. The measure of visual field loss most closely related to these changes was pattern standard deviation. Conclusions: The concerns of a group of glaucoma patients were not primarily associated with the characteristic loss of peripheral visual field but with an increased awareness of the vulnerability of central vision as the disease progresses.

Keywords: quality of life • visual fields • contrast sensitivity 
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