Vision-Related Quality of Life Among Glaucoma Patients in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the impact of glaucoma severity and socioeconomic factors on perceived vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) among glaucoma patients in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included adult glaucoma patients attending the ophthalmology outpatient clinics at King Fahad Medical City and King Saud University Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from May 2022 to May 2023. The validated Arabic translation of the 39-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-39) was used to measure VRQoL. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to examine the factors associated with VRQoL.

Results: A total of 454 adult glaucoma patients participated in this study (response rate = 97.6%). The mean age of the patients was 60.8 ± 15.0 years. Most patients had severe glaucoma (42.5%), were female (54.2%), married (67.8%), unemployed (55.3%), had an income level of less than 10,000 Saudi Riyals per month (35.9%) and approximately one-third had lower secondary education (32.8%). A total of 24.4% of participants reported needing a care assistant, and 31.9% lived with caregivers. The mean overall composite score on the NEI VFQ-39 was 71.0 ± 21.3. Factors such as the severity of glaucoma, education level, employment status, needing care assistance and having care assistance from others were significant determinants of VRQoL in Saudi Arabian glaucoma patients.

Conclusions: Perceived VRQoL among Saudi adult glaucoma patients is influenced by glaucoma severity, education level, employment status and care needs. This study informs healthcare providers to enhance patient care and, consequently, improve patients' quality of life.