Visual Function in Everyday Activities

Examining the Relationship Between Clinician-Observed and Patient Self-Reported Visual Function in Everyday Activities

Co-Principal Investigator: Trudy Mallinson

Funding Source: Genentech, Inc.

Project Period: 07/01/2012 – 06/30/2013

Award Number: C4-152315

Total Award: $313,704

Co-Investigators: Rohit Varma

Abstract: Self-reports are commonly used to evaluate changes in everyday activities due to progressive visual loss among patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) and geographic atrophy (GA). Because the vision loss is insidious it is reasonable to hypothesize that patients may make multiple accommodations in the performance of everyday activities in order to adapt to altered vision, without being fully aware of the impact of such changes on day-to-day task performance (e.g., increased effort, diminished efficiency, reduced safety and independence). Although there is a pressing need to understand how patient self-report of visual function correlates with patient performance on everyday activities, there is currently little literature on this topic. Therefore, this study will investigate the relationship between scores on two patient self-reported outcomes measures i.e., the Functional Reading Independence Index (FRII) and the National Eye Institute Visual Function Scale (NEI VFQ), and a measure of observed functional performance, the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS). This study will determine the extent to which self-reported measures and observed performance measures provide comparable information about patient functional status. Examining the relationship between these two types of measures would provide information about how accurately the NEI VFQ and FRII reflect patient function in everyday activities.