Visual acuity impairment and vision-related quality of life: The Barbados Eye Studies

In addition to clinical criteria, self-perceptions of vision-related functioning and well-being are recognized as important measures for characterizing the disability associated with visual impairment. This report assessed the impact of visual impairment in a subset of the African-origin participants of the population-based Barbados Eye Studies, using the US National Eye Institute's 25-item Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25). Visual impairment was associated with significantly (P ≤ 0.01) lower VFQ scores in multidimensional aspects of vision-related quality of life (QOL), including vision-related activities and psychosocial functioning. Adjusted mean composite scores were 12 points (95% confidence interval: 9.5, 14.5) and 31 points (26.7, 34.6) lower for low vision and blindness, respectively, compared with no impairment, and 13 points (7.7, 17.6) lower for visual impairment not correctable, compared with correctable with refraction. In this population with high rates of visual disability, impaired visual acuity adversely impacted the self-perceived QOL, as measured by this instrument.