The Importance of Acuity, Stereopsis, and Contrast Sensitivity for Health-related Quality of Life in Elderly Women with Cataracts

Purpose: To investigate the relative contribution of visual and other factors to quality of life among elderly women with bilateral cataract.

Methods: Data were analyzed from a trial of first-eye cataract surgery. Visual parameters, general health, and social variables, and disease-specific (VF-14 Index of Visual Function), generic (Euroqol: EQ-5D, London Handicap Scale, Barthel), and intermediate (anxiety, depression, and activity) outcomes were measured at baseline and 6 months later, when approximately half the group had had surgery.

Results: Three hundred six participants provided data at baseline, and 289 at 6 months. At baseline, acuity, stereopsis, and contrast sensitivity were all associated with quality of life. Acuity and stereopsis were most strongly and consistently associated. Change in VF-14 was associated with changes in stereopsis and contrast sensitivity, while change in handicap was associated with change in stereopsis.

Conclusions: Acuity, stereopsis, and contrast sensitivity each contributed to quality of life, across a range of measures, in elderly women with cataract. Acuity was marginally the most consistently and generally the most strongly associated, but in some analyses stereopsis was more important. Change in quality of life was associated with change in stereopsis and contrast sensitivity.