Vision-Related Quality of Life and Ocular Parameters in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

To evaluate the vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) of patients receiving hemodialysis through the assessment of the impact of vision impairment (IVI) questionnaire and ocular parameters, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), and refraction as calculated by spherical equivalent (SE) of each eye.

Fifty-one patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis at a single center were recruited, and a total of 77 eyes were evaluated. BCVA, IOP, and SE were evaluated before and after hemodialysis (within 30 min).

Of the 51 patients recruited, 13 (25%) were female, 37 (73%) were male, and one (2%) chose not to specify gender. The mean age was 61.85 ± 32 years. The mobility IVI score was correlated significantly with the presence of hypertension (P = 0.01), eye drop usage (P = 0.04), and gender (P = 0.04). Emotional IVI scores were correlated significantly with diabetes (P = 0.03) and hypertension (P < 0.01). IOP significantly correlated with the IVI overall score (P = 0.02), including the reading IVI subscale and the emotional IVI subscale. Several factors were associated with posthemodialysis ocular parameters, including predialysis ocular parameters, age, and hypertension (P < 0.05 for all).

IOP significantly correlated with VRQoL in hemodialysis patients. Demographic variables such as diabetes status, hypertension, eye drop usage, and gender also significantly correlated with subsections of the IVI questionnaire. This study investigated the relationship between ocular parameters and VRQoL in hemodialysis patients, and future longitudinal research is needed to further elucidate the mechanisms.