Materials and Methods: A hundred and fiftyone patients who referred to our Retina outpatient, and accepted to complete a QoL questionnaire were enrolled. Ophthalmologic findings and the scores of previously validated visual-function questionnaire (VFQ-39) were recorded for each participant. After dividing the study population into 3 subgroups with respect to best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) as ≥logMAR 1.0 (Group 1), logMAR 0.4-1.0 (Group 2), and < logMAR 0.4 (Group 3), VFQ-39 scores were evaluated and statistically analyzed.

Results: Mean age was 61.6±13.6 years (18-89). Seventynine subjects (52.3%) were females, and 72 (47.7%) were males. Mean BCVA was logMAR 0.26±0.34 (0.0-2.0). Diabetic retinopathy (31.8%), age-related macular degeneration (31.8%), and retinal detachment (9.9%) were leading diagnosis on referral. Among three subgroups, no significant difference was found in general health, ocular pain, social function, mental health, role difficulties, driving, color vision, and peripheral vision sub-scales, however patients in group 3 had better scores in general vision, near activities, distance activities, and dependency sub-scales (p=0.035, p=0.003, p=0.022, and p=0.026, respectively). When group 3 were excluded, group 1 had better scores in all VFQ-39 sub-scales except driving and color vision, although no statistical significance was found in any sub-scale analysis between group 1 and 2.

Conclusion: As expected, patients in group 3 had better VFQ-39 scores in vision-related sub-scales. Relatively higher QoL scores found in group 1 when compared to group 2 may be attributed to the acceptance of the present visual state. Keywords : Vision related quality of life, VFQ-39, quality of life questionnaire