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Assessment of vision-related quality of life among patients with cataracts and the outcomes of cataract surgery using a newly developed visual function questionnaire: the VFQ-J11

  • Clinical Investigation
  • Published:
Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To investigate vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) and associated factors in patients with cataracts and the outcomes of cataract surgery using the newly developed VRQoL instrument: the visual function questionnaire, 11-item Japanese version (the VFQ-J11).

Methods

A total of 457 patients scheduled for cataract surgery at 12 clinical sites from November 2008 through February 2010 were included in the study. The patients completed the VFQ-J11 before and 3 months after surgery. The VFQ-J11 was used to investigate factors associated with VRQoL of the cataract patients, the outcome of cataract surgery, and the predictors of improved VRQoL due to cataract surgery.

Results

In a multiple regression model, the VFQ-J11 score was significantly associated with corrected distance visual acuity in the better-seeing eye (better eye VA), and improvement in the VFQ-J11 score after cataract surgery was associated not only with improvement in the better eye VA, but also with improvement in the worse eye VA. Compared to one-eye cataract surgery, both-eyes surgery had a greater impact on VFQ-J11 score improvement.

Conclusions

The VFQ-J11 is a good measure of VRQoL in cataract patients. The present study indicates that by including the domains measured in the VFQ, the VFQ-J11 can provide valid data on VRQoL and be less of a burden for patients.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by research grants from Japan National Society for the Prevention of Blindness. The authors particularly thank Yoshimi Suzukamo (Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tohoku University) for personally communicating the information about the time required to complete the VFQ-25.

Conflicts of interest

Y. Hiratsuka, None; M. Yamada, None; Y. Akune, None; A. Murakami, None; A. A. Okada, None; H. Yamashita, Drug Development (Senju Pharmaceutical Company); Y. Ohashi, None; N. Yamagishi, None; H. Tamura, None; S. Fukuhara, None; T. Takura, None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health and Welfare Services, National Institute of Public Health, 2-3-6 Minami, Wako, Saitama, 351-0197, Japan

    Yoshimune Hiratsuka

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Masakazu Yamada & Annabelle A. Okada

  3. National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan

    Masakazu Yamada & Yoko Akune

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Akira Murakami

  5. Department of Ophthalmology, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan

    Hidetoshi Yamashita

  6. Department of Ophthalmology, Ehime University, Ehime, Japan

    Yuichi Ohashi

  7. Yamagishi Ganka, Nara, Japan

    Naoya Yamagishi

  8. Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

    Hiroshi Tamura

  9. Department of Healthcare Epidemiology, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

    Shunichi Fukuhara

  10. Department of Health Care Economics and Industrial Policy, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan

    Tomoyuki Takura

Authors
  1. Yoshimune Hiratsuka
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  2. Masakazu Yamada
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  3. Yoko Akune
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  4. Akira Murakami
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  5. Annabelle A. Okada
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  6. Hidetoshi Yamashita
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  7. Yuichi Ohashi
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  8. Naoya Yamagishi
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  9. Hiroshi Tamura
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  10. Shunichi Fukuhara
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  11. Tomoyuki Takura
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yoshimune Hiratsuka.

Additional information

The authors contributed this article on behalf of the Eye Care Comparative Effectiveness Research Team (ECCERT), the members of which are listed in the Appendix.

Appendix: the Eye Care Comparative Effectiveness Research Team (ECCERT)

Appendix: the Eye Care Comparative Effectiveness Research Team (ECCERT)

The following individuals participated in study.

Writing Committee: Yoshimune Hiratsuka, Masakazu Yamada, Yoko Akune, Akira Murakami, Annabelle A. Okada, Hidetoshi Yamashita, Yuichi Ohashi, Naoya Yamagishi, Hiroshi Tamura, Shunichi Fukuhara, Tomoyuki Takura.

Study group investigators and clinical sites: Eguchi Ganka Hospital, Hokkaido; Shuichiro Eguchi.

Iwate Medical University, Iwate; Daijiro Kurosaka.

Yamagata University, Yamagata; Hidetoshi Yamashita.

National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center, Tokyo; Masakazu Yamada.

Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo; Annabelle A. Okada.

Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo; Akira Murakami, Koichi Ono.

Juntendo Tokyo Koto Geriatric Medical Center, Tokyo; Yoshimune Hiratsuka, Kenichi Takahashi.

Shohzankai Medical Foundation Miyake Eye Hospital, Nagoya; Sampei Miyake.

National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya; Hiroshi Hirose.

National Hospital Organization Osaka Medical Center, Osaka; Yasumasa Otori.

Kyoto University, Kyoto; Nagahisa Yoshimura, Hiroshi Tamura.

Ehime University, Ehime; Yuichi Ohashi, Toshihiko Uno, Yasuaki Yamamoto.

Central Unit:

National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center, Tokyo; Yoko Akune, Masakazu Yamada.

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Hiratsuka, Y., Yamada, M., Akune, Y. et al. Assessment of vision-related quality of life among patients with cataracts and the outcomes of cataract surgery using a newly developed visual function questionnaire: the VFQ-J11. Jpn J Ophthalmol 58, 415–422 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-014-0335-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-014-0335-3

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