Are blind people more likely to accept free cataract surgery? A study of vision-related quality of life and visual acuity in Kenya

Ophthalmic Epidemiology
Sebastian BriesenPaul Courtright

Abstract

To determine possible differences in visual acuity, socio-demographic factors and vision-related Quality of Life (QoL) between people accepting and people refusing sponsored cataract surgery. Three hundred and fifty seven local residents with visually impairing cataract, presenting at screening sites in Kwale District, Kenya were clinically assessed and interviewed. The World Health Organization (WHO) QoL-questionnaire WHO/Prevention of Blindness and Deafness Visual Functioning Questionnaire 20 (PBD-VFQ20) was used to determine the vision-related QoL. A standardized questionnaire asked for socio-demographic data and prior cataract surgery in one eye. After interview, patients were offered free surgery. Primary outcome was the mean QoL-score between acceptors and non-acceptors. Secondary outcomes were visual acuity and socio-demographic factors and their contribution to QoL-scores and the decision on acceptance or refusal. Fifty nine people (16.5%) refused and 298 accepted cataract surgery. Vision-related QoL was poorer in people accepting than in those refusing (mean score 51.54 and 43.12 respectively). People with poor visual acuity were only slightly more likely to accept surgery than people with better vision; the strongest ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Oct 20, 2009·Der Ophthalmologe : Zeitschrift der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft·S BriesenM Kollmann
Mar 21, 2012·International Ophthalmology·Narivony RazafinimpananaSusan Lewallen
Jul 7, 2011·Middle East African Journal of Ophthalmology·Herrieth MgangaPaul Courtright
Mar 11, 2010·Tropical Medicine & International Health : TM & IH·Sebastian BriesenPaul Courtright
Aug 19, 2014·Ophthalmic Epidemiology·Sebastian BriesenRobert P Finger
Sep 18, 2012·Ophthalmic Epidemiology·William H DeanUte Wiehler

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