Self-reported visual dysfunction in multiple sclerosis: results from the 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25)

Mult Scler. 2000 Dec;6(6):382-5. doi: 10.1177/135245850000600604.

Abstract

Visual impairment is one of the most common clinical manifestations of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and is strongly related to overall health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in MS and other disorders. However, the assessment of vision-specific HRQOL in patients with MS has been limited. The purpose of this study was to examine self-reported visual dysfunction in a clinically heterogeneous MS cohort using the 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25). The VFQ-25 was administered by telephone interview to a subset of participants in a follow-up study to a phase III trial of interferon beta-1a for relapsing-remitting MS. Mean VFQ-25 composite scores and selected sub-scale scores were significantly lower (worse) among patients in our MS cohort (n=35) compared with a published reference group of patients with no history of chronic eye disease (n= 118). These differences were observed despite a relatively younger age and tighter distribution of binocular visual acuities in the MS cohort Patients with MS in this study thus demonstrated a greater degree of self-reported visual dysfunction, as measured by the VFQ-25, compared with an eye disease-free reference group. The VFQ-25 is a potentially useful measure of vision-specific HRQOL in patients with MS.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / complications
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / physiopathology*
  • National Institutes of Health (U.S.)
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Reference Values
  • Self Disclosure*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*
  • Vereinigte Staaten
  • Vision Disorders / etiology
  • Vision Disorders / physiopathology*