Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Open Access

Abstract

Effect of Glaucoma Medications on Quality of Life Examined by Generic and Vision Specific Instruments

Gemma Caterina Maria Rossi, Gian Maria Pasinetti, Aba Briola and Paolo Emilio Bianchi

Purpose: To evaluate the relation between number of glaucomatous medications and Quality of Life (QL) in glaucoma patients.
Methods: The study was an observational cross-sectional study. 53 consecutive patients with early or suspect glaucoma, matched for age and gender, were selected from the Glaucoma service of the University Eye Clinic of Pavia. The patients were then divided into 3 groups on the basis of the therapy (group A= no therapy, B= one drug, C= two drugs). All subjects completed both the self-administered version of Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (MOS SF-36) and the Italian version of the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire 25-item (NEI-VFQ 25). Relation and differences between each scale of both questionnaires and group was studied applying the ANOVA Kruskal-Wallis test ant the Mann-Whitney U test.
Results: Social functioning scale (SF36) was significantly altered in the three groups (p<0.02). SF was statistically different between group A and B (p=0.04) and between group A and C (p=0.011) suggesting a positive effect of the therapy on QL.
The physical functioning subscale (SF-36) and the vision specific social functioning sub-scale (NEI-VFQ) recorded differences but not significant (p=0.088 and p=0.052, respectively).
Conclusions: Our results suggest that the number of glaucoma medications is not predictive of quality of life. In some patients the number of medications may improve their QL perception. Further clinical trials to verify and study these outcomes are required.