The Quality of Life Of Patients with Eye Diseases

Background: Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) values determined using direct elicitation methods and generic preference-based measures are important for economic evaluations of healthcare interventions. The ophthalmology clientele is vulnerable to psychological stressors in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Objectives: To systematically identify and summarize the quality of life (QoL) of eye disease patients in general in North America and seniors with eye diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A systematic review identified North American studies that quantified HRQoL of eye disease patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted among seniors with eye diseases and backwards stepwise regression models were built. Results: The systematic review revealed that HRQoL across patients with glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), cataracts, uveitis, and dry eye disease (DED) was similar using the SF-12 and SF-36. Utility values across patients with ARMD, DR, cataracts, uveitis, and DED appear to be similar while values in patients with glaucoma appear to be higher. The cross-sectional survey revealed that HRQoL, vision-related QoL (VRQoL), and sleep quality appeared to be good. Depression and anxiety symptoms appeared to be low, while community integration and social support were moderate. The presence of retinal disease and the number of non-ocular comorbidities negatively impacted VRQoL and social support and community integration. Education impacted social support and community integration negatively. of mobility aids appeared to negatively affect depressive symptoms and sleep quality. Conclusion: Overall QoL among North American patients and seniors with eye diseases appeared to be generally good