Visual function vs quality of life assessment in patients with laser-treated diabetic macular oedema

Purpose To compare different visual function assessments in patients with laser-treated diabetic macular oedema (DMO) to the self-assessment of visual dysfunction and quality of life (QoL) time trade-off (TTO) utility measures. Methods Forty patients with DMO previously treated with laser were assessed for best corrected visual acuity (distance and near), reading speed, fixation location and stability, microperimetry with Nidek MP-1, and optical coherent topography (OCT). Subjective analogue self-assessment of distance and near visual dysfunction and QoL TTO utility measures were also assessed. Results Distance visual acuity correlate well with fixation location and stability, and central retinal thickness of OCT. Near visual acuity and reading speed correlate well with relative scotoma size. However, visual dysfunction and QoL TTO utility correlations are more complex, reading speed in the better seeing eye is best to correlate with QoL TTO utility after correcting for age. Conclusion Laser treated DMO patients often report subjective visual dysfunction that cannot be explained by best corrected distance visual acuity. Scotoma size affects near vision and reading speed, leading to poor quality of life.