Charles Bonnet Syndrome Adversely Affects Vision-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Glaucoma

To investigate the impact of Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) on vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) in patients with glaucoma.

Cross-sectional cohort study.

Twenty-four patients with CBS and 42 matched controls without CBS out of 337 patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) with visual field (VF) loss.

A matching technique was used to identify control patients with similar disease stage, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and age to patients with CBS. Patients' VRQoL was determined using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire 25 (NEI VFQ-25). Rasch-calibrated NEI VFQ-25 scores of the CBS group and the control group were compared. Uni- and multivariable regression analysis was used to evaluate the impact of different factors on VRQoL.

Vision-related quality of life in patients with glaucoma with CBS and without CBS.

Vision-related quality of life scores were significantly lower in the CBS group than in the control group on both the visual functioning scale with 39 points (95% confidence interval (CI): 30-48) vs. 52 points (95% CI: 46-58) (P = 0.013) and on the socioemotional scale with 45 points (95% CI: 37-53) vs. 58 points (95% CI: 51-65) (P = 0.015). Univariable regression analysis showed that integrated visual field mean deviation (IVF-MD) (r² = 0.334, P < 0.001), BCVA in the better eye (r² = 0.117, P = 0.003), and the presence of CBS (r² = 0.078, P = 0.013) were significantly correlated to VRQoL scores on the visual functioning scale. Integrated visual field mean deviation (r² = 0.281, P < 0.001), age (r² = 0.048, P = 0.042), and the presence of CBS (r² = 0.076, P = 0.015) were significantly correlated to VRQoL scores on the socioemotional scale. Multivariable regression analysis showed that IVF-MD and the presence of CBS accounted for nearly 40% of the VRQoL score on the visual functioning scale (R² = 0.393, P < 0.001) and for 34% of the VRQoL score on the socioemotional scale (R² = 0.339, P < 0.001).

Charles Bonnet syndrome had a significant negative association to VRQoL in patients with glaucoma. Presence of CBS should be considered when evaluating VRQoL in patients with glaucoma.

The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.