The Effects of Strabismus on Quality of Life in Adults

Abstract

Purpose: As a first step in the development of a health related quality of life instrument, we conducted in-depth interviews to identify the specific concerns of adults with strabismus. Design: Prospective cross-sectional studyMethods: Thirty adults with strabismus, 17 with diplopia and 13 without were recruited. Individual interviews, using 11 open-ended questions, were audiotaped, transcribed and transcripts reviewed independently by 3 investigators. Phrases regarding how strabismus affected everyday life were grouped into topic areas and the frequency of each topic analyzed for subjects with and without diplopia.

Improvement in patients' quality-of-life following strabismus surgery: evaluation of postoperative outcomes using the Adult Strabismus 20 (AS-20) score

“…Second, strabismic adults have been shown to have social and psychological issues directly related to their condition, which impact all aspects of their lives: education, social relationships, employment prospects, and self-esteem. [2][3][4][5][6][7] One study has shown that manifest strabismus has a direct relationship with mental health issues, which occur more commonly when compared with controls. 8 A review of the psychosocial issues associated with squint concluded thus, 'There is overwhelming evidence describing these negative effects on patients.'…”

The impact of strabismus on quality of life in adults with and without diplopia: a systematic review

“…Using extraction techniques, items were created from phrases in patient interviews. 21 A total of 181 items were then completed by a group of strabismus patients and then reduced to 20 items using factor analysis. 19 The two subscales of psychosocial concerns and functional difficulties possess good discriminative ability, internal consistency, 18 and testeretest reliability.…”

Outcome of horizontal strabismus surgery and parents’ satisfaction

“…Negative psychological effects of strabismus in adults include a negative self-image such as a lack of confidence and a low self-esteem and negatively affect job prospects, relationships, education and sports (Kothari et al, 2009;Burke et al, 1997;Hatt et al, 2007;Nelson et al 2008;Jakson et al, 2006;Durmian et al, 2009;Bez et al 2009). These difficulties have been reported to worsen both with increasing age and the severity of the strabismus (Durmian et al, 2009).…”