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Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Comparison of Three Clinical Stereoscopic Methods for Measuring Binocular Visual Function During Amblyopic Treatment in Unilateral Amblyopia
Published on: September 27, 2024
Quality of life in adults with strabismus
Melinda Y Chang1, Federico G Velez1, Joseph L Demer1
1Stein Eye Institute and the Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
Purpose:
To assess relative quality of life in patients with strabismus.
Design:
Retrospective cohort study.
Methods:
The 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) was performed in 42 strabismic adults over the age of 50 years at a single institution. Subscale scores were compared with those of patients with other ocular diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, cataract, cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis, and low vision.
Results:
Median visual acuity was 20/20 (range 20/12.5-20/50), and 34 patients (81%) reported diplopia. Strabismic patients performed the same or worse on nearly all vision-related subscales than did patients with diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract, and CMV retinitis. Additionally, strabismic patients reported significantly worse ocular pain than all comparison groups before any surgery was performed.
Conclusions:
Strabismus impacts quality of life through both functional and psychosocial factors. Physicians treating strabismic patients should recognize these quality-of-life issues and address them accordingly.
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