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Vision-related quality of life and emotional impact in children with strabismus: a prospective study
1Department of Ophthalmology, Jiangxi Children's Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China.
Insights
Surgical correction of strabismus significantly improves vision-related quality of life (VRQOL) and reduces anxiety and depression in children. The National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) effectively measures these improvements.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Psychology
Background:
- Strabismus in children can negatively impact vision-related quality of life (VRQOL) and mental health.
- The precise effects of surgical correction on these aspects are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of strabismus surgery on VRQOL and symptoms of anxiety and depression in pediatric patients.
- To assess the utility of the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 60 children with strabismus (30 heterophoria, 30 heterotropia) was studied.
- A control group of 60 healthy children was included for comparison.
- Patients completed the NEI-VFQ-25 and HADS pre- and post-operatively.
Main Results:
- Children with strabismus showed significant impairments across eight NEI-VFQ-25 subscales compared to controls.
- Post-surgery, patients exhibited significant improvements in the NEI-VFQ-25 summary score.
- Surgical intervention led to notable reductions in anxiety and depression scores.
Conclusions:
- The NEI-VFQ-25 is a suitable instrument for assessing VRQOL in children with strabismus.
- Surgical correction of strabismus positively impacts children's VRQOL, anxiety, and depression levels.
Abstract:
The potential impact of the surgical correction of strabismus on vision-related quality of life (VRQOL) and the symptoms of anxiety and depression in children with strabismus remain unclear. The present study included 60 children with strabismus: 30 with heterophoria and 30 with heterotropia. A healthy age- and gender-matched control group (n = 60) was also recruited. The psychological instruments that were used were the short-form 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The results demonstrated that eight of the 12 NEI-VFQ-25 subscales were significantly impaired in children with strabismus compared with matched controls. Compared with pre-operative values, significant improvements were noted after surgery in the NEI-VFQ-25 summary score, and the anxiety and depression scores. This study demonstrated that the NEI-VFQ-25 instrument can be used in strabismus children and that surgical interventions can improve VRQOL, anxiety and depression in strabismus patients.
