PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between visual disability and visual scores in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. METHODS: The relationship between visual disability and visual scores (visual acuity and visual field) were investigated in 93 patients with retinitis pigmentosa. The visual disability of each patient was evaluated using a questionnaire (a total of 35 questions in 7 sections regarding daily life). Reproducibility and validity of the questionnaire had been established by an investigation in glaucoma patients. The mean (+/- standard deviation) age of patients was 52.6 +/- 15.1 years, the mean visual acuity (log10 MAR) was 0.6 +/- 0.4, and the mean deviation of visual field with Humphrey program 30-2 was -21.1 +/- 10.0 dB. RESULTS: The visual acuity in the better eye (r = 0.66-0.81) and the mean sensitivity within the central 10 degrees of the visual field (r = -0.76(-)-0.62) had a definite relationship to the visual disability index of each section (section DI) and their sum (total DI) (p < .0001). This relationship was also confirmed in stepwise multiple linear regression analysis which showed a high correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.57-0.77, p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Besides the visual acuity, the mean sensitivity within the central 10 degrees of the visual field is important in evaluating the visual disability of patients with retinitis pigmentosa.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between visual disability and visual scores in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. METHODS: The relationship between visual disability and visual scores (visual acuity and visual field) were investigated in 93 patients with retinitis pigmentosa. The visual disability of each patient was evaluated using a questionnaire (a total of 35 questions in 7 sections regarding daily life). Reproducibility and validity of the questionnaire had been established by an investigation in glaucomapatients. The mean (+/- standard deviation) age of patients was 52.6 +/- 15.1 years, the mean visual acuity (log10 MAR) was 0.6 +/- 0.4, and the mean deviation of visual field with Humphrey program 30-2 was -21.1 +/- 10.0 dB. RESULTS: The visual acuity in the better eye (r = 0.66-0.81) and the mean sensitivity within the central 10 degrees of the visual field (r = -0.76(-)-0.62) had a definite relationship to the visual disability index of each section (section DI) and their sum (total DI) (p < .0001). This relationship was also confirmed in stepwise multiple linear regression analysis which showed a high correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.57-0.77, p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Besides the visual acuity, the mean sensitivity within the central 10 degrees of the visual field is important in evaluating the visual disability of patients with retinitis pigmentosa.