Creation and testing of a practical visual function assessment for use in Africa: correlation with visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and near vision in Malawian adults
Karin van Dijka, Susan Lewallenb, Moses Chiramboc, Jane Gardinerb, Brian Hoarb, Janette Lindleyb, N Kevin Wadeb, Paul Courtrightb
a Christoffel
Blindenmission, Boshof 10, 7873 AC Odoorn, Netherlands, b BC Centre for Epidemiologic and
International Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia, St Paul's
Hospital, Vancouver, Canada, c Sight Savers International, PO Box 30858, Lilongwe, 3, Malawi
Correspondence to: Dr Paul Courtright, BC Centre for Epidemiologic and International Ophthalmology, St Paul's Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
Accepted for publication 27 January 1999
AIM
To develop and
test a practical visual function assessment for use in developing countries.
METHODSUsing focus
group discussions and interviews with eyecare workers and low vision
specialists in Malawi, 13 questions related to visual characteristics
of activities of daily living were designed. Patients presenting to an
eye clinic were recruited and interviewed. Visual acuity, near vision,
and contrast sensitivity were measured. Analysis sought to determine
the degree of correlation between the vision indices and visual function.
RESULTSThe visual
function questionnaire was easy to administer. Visual function
correlated with visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, near vision, and
patient reported visual problem. People with a higher frequency of
"not applicable" responses had lower visual function scores.
Multivariate modelling revealed that visual acuity and number of
questions felt to be applicable were independently associated with
visual function. Reducing the questionnaire to nine questions did not
affect the degree of correlation with any of the visual indices.
CONCLUSIONThe
authors' visual function assessment correlates well with different
measures of visual acuity. People with reduced vision for a prolonged
period may no longer consider doing certain tasks and the number of
questions considered appropriate by an individual may be an additional
measure of visual function. Assessment of visual function by health
workers may be a valuable tool in improving surgical uptake by
encouraging both health personnel and patients to recognise that they
have difficulties undertaking activities of daily living as well as a
measure of monitoring and evaluating cataract outcomes.
© 1999 by British Journal of Ophthalmology
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
-
Toit, R. d., Palagyi, A., Ramke, J., Brian, G., Lamoureux, E. L.
(2008). Development and Validation of a Vision-Specific Quality-of-Life Questionnaire for Timor-Leste. IOVS
49: 4284-4289
[Abstract] [Full Text] -
Kessy, J. P, Lewallen, S.
(2007). Poverty as a barrier to accessing cataract surgery: a study from Tanzania. Br. J. Ophthalmol.
91: 1114-1116
[Abstract] [Full Text] -
Polack, S., Kuper, H., Mathenge, W., Fletcher, A., Foster, A.
(2007). Cataract visual impairment and quality of life in a Kenyan population. Br. J. Ophthalmol.
91: 927-932
[Abstract] [Full Text] -
Murthy, G V S, Gupta, S K, Thulasiraj, R D, Viswanath, K, Donoghue, E M, Fletcher, A E
(2005). The development of the Indian vision function questionnaire: questionnaire content. Br. J. Ophthalmol.
89: 498-503
[Abstract] [Full Text] -
Gothwal, V. K., Lovie-Kitchin, J. E., Nutheti, R.
(2003). The Development of the LV Prasad-Functional Vision Questionnaire: A Measure of Functional Vision Performance of Visually Impaired Children. IOVS
44: 4131-4139
[Abstract] [Full Text] -
Courtright, P, Hoeshcmann, A, Metcalfe, N, Chirambo, M, Noertjojo, K, Barrows, J, Katz, J
(2003). Changes in blindness prevalence over 16 years in Malawi: reduced prevalence but increased numbers of blind. Br. J. Ophthalmol.
87: 1079-1082
[Abstract] [Full Text]
- Full Text
- Full Text (PDF)
- Submit a response
- Alert me when this article is cited
- Alert me when eLetters are posted
- Alert me if a correction is posted
- Citation Map
Services
- Email this link to a friend
- Similar articles in this journal
- Similar articles in PubMed
- Add article to my folders
- Download to citation manager
- Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Google Scholar
PubMed
Topic Collections
Bookmark with
Register for free content
The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.
Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.
