Visual Field Loss, Quality of Life and Ocular Biometric Parameters: A Cross Sectional Study of Taiwanese Adults

Purpose: To evaluate the severity of visual field loss in Taiwanese adults and assess the associations between visual field loss detected by frequency doubling technology (FDT) perimetry and vision-related quality of life (QoL) in Taiwanese adults. Methods: A total of 206 eyes from 206 subjects were included. Each subject was examined using FDT (N-30 threshold test) perimetry, optical coherence tomography (OCT), noncontact tonometry, cycloplegic refractometry, and National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire 25 items (NEI VFQ-25). Results of FDT tests were classified into four groups (normal, early, moderate, and severe defects) using FDT probability map analysis. OCT parameters included central cornea thickness (CCT), thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell complex (GCC), focal loss volume (FLV), and global loss volume (GLV) of GCC. The global score, subscales of near and distance activities of VFQ were calculated. Linear regression analysis was used to analyze the factors associated with visual field loss. Kruskal-Wallis analysis was used to examine the relationship between FDT results and vision-related QoL. Results: Among the 206 subjects, 72 were normal. The numbers of participants having early, moderate, and severe visual field loss were 101, 27, and 6. Moderate visual field defect was associated with CCT, GLV, GCC, and SE when compared to the subjects with normal response. Kruskal-Wallis analysis indicated that those with moderate visual field loss determined by FDT had worse vision related QoL and more difficulties in distance activities of VFQ (p=0.01) than people with normal response. Conclusion: Moderate visual field loss detected by FDT was associated with vision-related QoL in young adults. Further study is warranted to determine the potential of visual field loss as a predicting factor for vision loss related QoL.