Journal
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY NEUROSURGERY AND PSYCHIATRY
Volume 80, Issue 7, Pages 767-772Publisher
BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP
DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.2008.165449
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society [RG 3208-A-1, RG 3428-A/2]
- National Eye Institute (NIH) [K24 EY 018136, R01 EY 014993]
- National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence
- McKnight Brain Institute
- UF and Shands
- NIH/NINDS [K23 NS044997]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Objective: To examine the relation between low contrast letter acuity, a new visual function test for multiple sclerosis (MS) trials, and vision targeted health related quality of life (HRQOL). Methods: Patients in this cross sectional study were part of an ongoing investigation of visual function in MS. Patients were tested binocularly using low contrast letter acuity and Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) visual acuity (VA) charts. The 25 Item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25), 10 Item Neuro-Ophthalmic Supplement to the NEI-VFQ-25, Impact of Visual Impairment Scale and Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) were administered. Results: Among 167 patients, mean age was 48 (10) years, with median Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 2.0 (range 1.0-7.5), and median binocular Snellen acuity equivalent (ETDRS charts) 20/16 (range 20/12.5 to 20/100). Reductions in vision specific HRQOL were associated with lower (worse) scores for low contrast letter acuity and VA (p < 0.001, linear regression, accounting for age). Two line differences in visual function were associated, on average, with >4 point (6.7-10.9 point) worsening in the NEI-VFQ-25 composite score, reductions that are considered clinically meaningful. Scores for the 10 Item Neuro-Ophthalmic Supplement to the NEI-VFQ-25 also correlated well with visual function. Associations between reduced low contrast acuity and worse vision targeted HRQOL remained significant in models accounting for high contrast VA, EDSS and history of acute optic neuritis. Conclusions: Low contrast letter acuity scores correlate well with HRQOL in MS. Two line differences in scores for low contrast acuity and VA reflect clinically meaningful differences in vision targeted HRQOL. Low contrast acuity testing provides information on patient reported aspects of vision, supporting use of these measures in MS clinical trials.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available