Psychometric performance of the 23 item national eye institute visual function questionnaire in Chinese elderly with age-related visual disorders

Abstract

AIMS: To test the psychometric properties of the 23-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-23) in Chinese older persons with age-related visual disorders. METHODS: This study enrolled a sample of 167 patients aged at least 60 years old with age-related visual disorders who were scheduled for non-urgent visit in ophthalmology practices in two geriatric hospitals. Eligible participants had to be cognitively able to respond to a health status interview. The Chinese versions of the 23 item NEI-VFQ (two items pertaining to driving in original NEI VFQ-25 were discarded) and of Medical Outcome Study 12 item Short Form Health Survey were administered to all participants. All participants received a detailed eye examination conducted by ophthalmologist, and were divided into two groups - subnormal or mild visually impaired group and moderate or severe visually impaired group - in terms of visual acuity in the better-seeing eye. Construct validity, Known groups validity, and Internal consistency reliability were tested using statistical methods. RESULTS: Statistical analysis shows that the Chinese version of 23 item NEI-VFQ has satisfactory validity and reliability. Cronbach’s a coefficients for multi-item subscales are all above 0.70. There are moderate to high correlations between the NEI VFQ-23 subscales that have the most to do with central vision and measured visual acuity in the better-seeing eye. CONCLUSIONS: The 23 item NEI-VFQ is a validated instrument, and can be used in research as a specific measure of vision-targeted quality of life in Chinese older persons with age-related visual disorders.