Assessment of visual satisfaction and function after cataract surgery

Abstract

A shortened measure of visual function that had a predictive value equal to that of the VF-14 can more practically be used in everyday practice. Furthermore, the study showed that regional factors matter and highlights the necessity of basing measurement scales on factors important to the population in question to ensure scale validity.

Questionnaires for measuring cataract surgery outcomes

“…The Chinese version displayed good psychometric properties according to the authors. 16 An Australian study 17 found that VF-14 could be reduced to 7 items while preserving its psychometric properties; however, these 7 items were not the same as those in the previously published VF-7 from Finland. 18 The author stated that this difference reflected different life styles and preferences in the 2 countries.…”

“…18 The author stated that this difference reflected different life styles and preferences in the 2 countries. 17 A study of subjects scheduled for cataract surgery found that utility (verbal rating and standard gamble) was more strongly correlated with VF-14 scores than with generic measures of health, such as SF-36. 19 A utility-based generic instrument was compared with VF-14 in subjects who had uneventful cataract surgery.…”

Measuring outcomes of cataract surgery using the Visual Function Index-14

“…They were Friedman et al's VF-11 (11 items), 13 Uusitalo et al's VF-7 (VF-7U; 7 items), 8 Pager's VF-7 (VF-7P; 7 items), 9 Moghimi et al's VF-9 for women (VF-9MF; 9 items) and for men (VF-9MM; 10 items), 10 The response options used in all short-form versions were similar to the original VF-14. Although Lamoureux et al 11 proposed a reduction in categories from 5 to 4 for their VF-9L, in this study the original 5 categories for data collection were retained as that was how Lamoureux et al collected their data.…”

“…3,7 However, researchers have suggested it is too time consuming for routine use and therefore have proposed shortened versions. [8][9][10] Uusitalo et al 8 proposed a VF-7, derived by selecting items that best correlated with patient satisfaction. Pager 9 also advocated a VF-7, which included items (different from Uusitalo et al) that closely correlated with the overall preoperative VF-14 score.…”

Is there overutilisation of cataract surgery in England?

“…Using the most commonly employed patient-reported measure, the VF-148 in which a score of 100 represents no difficulties, eight studies in the 1990s in USA, Spain, Canada, Denmark, UK and Sweden found the mean preoperative score was 62.9–76.0 9 – 14. In contrast, three studies in Canada, Australia and Scotland carried out since 2000 report the mean score has risen to 73.0–84.4 6 12 15…”