MAR 11, 2011
Retina/Vitreous
The NEI-VFQ-25 has been used to investigate the impact of many ocular diseases on visual function and health-related quality of life, but few epidemiologic studies have investigated changes in quality of life among individuals with type 1 diabetes over time.
In this prospective cohort study, researchers used the NEI-VFQ-25 questionnaire to investigate changes in vision-related quality of life over a 10-year period in 471 subjects with type 1 diabetes.
They found that a loss of three lines in visual acuity in the better eye was associated with a relatively large negative influence on activities related to vision, as well as to other aspects of quality of life, such as mental health, role limitation, dependency and driving. Unemployment and the development of long-term complications, such as nephropathy, were also associated with negative changes in some subscale scores. Changes in diabetic retinopathy status were not related to changes in any area.
The authors conclude that these findings support current guidelines regarding the necessity of timely dilated eye examinations and treatment in people with type 1 diabetes to prevent vision loss and improve quality of life.