A qualitative investigation of visual tasks with which to assess distance-specific visual function

Development and Psychometric Assessment of Novel Item Banks for Hereditary Retinal Diseases

SIGNIFICANCE

This study develops psychometrically valid item banks across 10 areas of quality of life (QoL) specific to people with hereditary retinal diseases, which will enable clinicians and researchers to explore the impact of hereditary retinal diseases across all aspects of QoL.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of hereditary retinal disease QoL item banks using Rasch analysis and demonstrate the effectiveness of a computerized adaptive testing (CAT) system in obtaining precise measurement of QoL using only a few items.

METHODS

The hereditary retinal disease item banks were answered by 233 participants (median age, 58 years; range, 18 to 94 years; female participants, 59%). The hereditary retinal disease item banks cover 10 QoL domains: activity limitation, mobility, emotional, social, convenience, economic, health concerns, visual symptoms, ocular comfort symptoms, and general symptoms. Rasch analysis assessed the psychometric properties of the 10 item banks and provided item calibrations for the development of CAT. Computerized adaptive testing simulations were performed to calculate the average number of items required to gain precise measurement of each QoL domain.

RESULTS

The convenience, economic, visual symptoms, and the social domains formed unidimensional scales. However, the activity limitation and health concerns domains demonstrated multidimensionality and required major modifications to resolve this, which resulted in four new QoL domains, namely, reading, driving, lighting, and concerns about the disease progression. In total, 10 item banks underwent CAT simulation testing, which indicated that 8 to 12 items were required to gain precise measurement of each QoL domain.

CONCLUSIONS

We have developed 10 psychometrically valid item banks to measure the QoL domains relevant to people with hereditary retinal diseases. On average, only 5 and 10 items were required to gain measurement at moderate and high precision, respectively.

Visual Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction for Trifocal, Extended Depth of Focus and Monofocal Intraocular Lenses

PURPOSE

To assess visual outcomes and patient satisfaction for trifocal and extended depth of focus (EDOF) intraocular lenses (IOLs) compared to monofocal IOLs with and without monovision.

METHODS

Consecutive patients underwent bilateral cataract extraction surgery and implantation of either monofocal IOLs, monofocal IOLs using monovision, EDOF IOLs, or trifocal IOLs. Patients with preoperative biometric data, postoperative refraction, and visual acuity who completed a questionnaire regarding satisfaction and side effects were included. Visual outcome, spectacle independence, patient satisfaction, and subjective photic phenomena were assessed.

RESULTS

Each group comprised 50 patients (100 eyes). The mean postoperative uncorrected distance, intermediate, and near visual acuities (logMAR) were: 0.17 ± 0.14 (Snellen 20/30), not applicable, and not applicable for monofocal; 0.08 ± 0.12 (Snellen 20/24), not applicable, and 0.07 ± 0.12 (Snellen 20/23) for monovision; 0.03 ± 0.08 (Snellen 20/21), 0.08 ± 0.12 (Snellen 20/24), and 0.23 ± 0.17 (Snellen 20/34) for EDOF; 0.07 ± 0.09 (Snellen 20/23), 0.08 ± 0.11 (Snellen 20/24), and 0.02 ± 0.06 (Snellen 20/21) for trifocal. Spectacle independence was reported by 36%, 70%, 74%, and 92% of patients, respectively. Postoperative halos and/or glare were experienced by 2%, 6%, 14%, and 38%, respectively, of which 2%, 0%, 6%, and 10%, respectively, were functionally disturbing. A total of 64%, 72%, 78%, and 76%, respectively, would choose the same IOL again.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient satisfaction rates were high in all groups. Trifocal IOLs were more effective in improving unaided whole range of vision, but were associated with a higher rate of photic phenomena. The EDOF IOL and monovision provided partial spectacle independence with less photic phenomena. [J Refract Surg. 2019;35(7):434-440.].