The AMA Guides functional vision score is a better predictor of vision-targeted quality of life than traditional measures of visual acuity or visual field extent

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if combining visual acuity (VA) and visual field (VF) measures in the manner proposed in the 1999 Guide for the Evaluation of Visual Impairment1and incorporated into the 5thEdition of AMA Guides for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment2(Guide) would be more predictive of self-reported vision-targeted quality of life than standard vision measures of VA or VF alone. DESIGN: Visual function and quality of life (QOL) were assessed in 200 visually impaired individuals. Tests included visual acuities, visual fields, and vision specific QOL using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ). Visual acuities and visual fields were scored in the usual manner and then rescored using methodology proposed in the Guide to derive measures of functional vision. Relationships among the visual function, functional vision and QOL outcomes variables were determined using correlation and stepwise regression analyses RESULTS: High correlations were ...