rss
Br J Ophthalmol 1999;83:519-523 doi:10.1136/bjo.83.5.519
  • Original Article
    • Clinical science

Measuring visual symptoms in British cataract patients: the cataract symptom scale

  1. H L Crabtreea,
  2. A J Hildretha,
  3. J E O’Connella,
  4. P S Phelanb,
  5. D Allenb,
  6. C S Graya
  1. aDepartment of Geriatric Medicine, University of Newcastle, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Kayll Road Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR4 7TP, bSunderland Eye Infirmary, Queen Alexandra Road, Sunderland SR2 9HP
  1. Professor C S Gray.
  • Accepted 21 January 1999

Abstract

AIMS To develop and validate a scale for the measurement of visual symptoms and functional disability due to cataract in older UK residents.

METHODS In depth semistructured interviews were undertaken with 44 consecutive patients awaiting cataract surgery. Patients were asked to describe visual symptoms and problems with social functioning which were then incorporated into a questionnaire, the cataract symptom scale (CSS). The CSS was further examined in a cohort of 118 consecutive cataract patients awaiting surgery. Further assessments in these patients included visual acuity, visual function using an existing scale (the VF-14), activities of daily living, perceived health status, anxiety and depression, and a global assessment of how much patients felt their visual symptoms affected their daily life.

RESULTS A 15 item scale was derived which was simple to administer to older patients and had a high internal consistency. The test-retest correlation coefficient for the total instrument score wasr = 0.91 (p<0.0001). The CSS correlated well with the VF-14 and to a lesser extent with visual acuity in the better eye, activities of daily living, perceived health status, anxiety and depression, and the patients’ global assessment of visual symptoms.

CONCLUSION The CSS provides information regarding the symptomatic and functional status of older cataract patients resident in the UK which cannot be obtained by measurement of visual acuity alone.

Footnotes

  • Conflict of interests: None.

This Article

  1. Abstract
  2. Full text
  3. PDF

Responses

  1. Submit a response
  2. No responses published

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.