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Assessing Early Stage Open-Angle Glaucoma in Patients by Isolated-Check Visual Evoked Potential
Published on: May 25, 2020
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Glaucoma and associated visual acuity and field loss significantly affect glaucoma-specific psychosocial functioning
Errol W Chan1, Peggy P C Chiang2, Jiemin Liao1
1Department of Ophthalmology, National University Health System and National University of Singapore, Singapore; Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore.
Ophthalmology
|December 3, 2014
Summary
Glaucoma significantly impacts psychosocial functioning, increasing anxiety and reducing self-image and well-being. Both visual acuity and visual field loss contribute to these negative effects across all glaucoma stages.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy leading to irreversible vision loss.
- Visual acuity (VA) and visual field (VF) impairments in glaucoma can significantly affect a patient's quality of life.
- Understanding the impact on psychosocial functioning (PF) is crucial for comprehensive patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between glaucoma, and subsequent visual acuity (VA) and visual field (VF) losses, and psychosocial functioning (PF).
- To determine the independent contribution of glaucoma and varying degrees of VA and VF loss to psychological well-being.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 192 participants with bilateral glaucoma and 40 controls.
- Psychosocial functioning was assessed using the Glaucoma Quality of Life 36 questionnaire, with outcomes analyzed via Rasch analysis.
- Multivariate regression and restricted cubic spline analyses were employed to evaluate the impact of glaucoma and vision impairment on PF.
Main Results:
- Glaucoma patients reported significantly higher anxiety (63.0%), lower self-image (71.0%), reduced psychological well-being (38.3%), and decreased confidence in healthcare (32.4%) compared to controls.
- Worsening VA and VF losses were associated with greater reductions in PF, with the most severe losses showing the most significant impact (26.0% to 81.5%).
- Specific thresholds of VF loss demonstrated non-linear effects on self-image and healthcare confidence.
Conclusions:
- Glaucoma exerts a significant negative influence on psychosocial functioning.
- Early-stage glaucoma with mild VF loss adversely impacts anxiety, self-image, and healthcare confidence.
- Ophthalmologists and patients must recognize that both VA and VF impairments at all glaucoma stages detrimentally affect PF.
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