Evaluation of the Impact of Uveitis on Visual-related Quality of Life

Abstract

Purpose: To determine quality of life in patients with uveitis and investigate the association between clinical parameters of uveitis and visual functioning.

Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study. The interviewer- administered National Eye Institute visual function questionnaire (VFQ-25) was used in 117 adult outpatient uveitic patients. Their scores were compared against 48 controls with no ocular history. Subgroup differences amongst the patients were compared using Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis test. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the associations of visual function and disease characteristics of uveitis.

Results: VFQ-25 composite scores for patients were significantly lower than controls in all domains except driving. In multivariable analysis, lower VFQ-25 composite scores were associated with a chronic course of disease, even after taking into account the influences of visual acuity, treatment regimes and location of disease.

Conclusions: Uveitic patients reported poorer visual functioning. A chronic course of disease is associated with poorer functioning.

KEYWORDS::

• Uveitis
• Quality of life
• Visual function questionaire
• Ocular inflammation
• Psychometric

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We would like to acknowledge Kia C. Chua and Alice W. Hooi for assistance in statistical analysis.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.