Visual functioning and quality of life outcomes among XXXX operated and unoperated blind populations in Nepal.

@entity1 @entity227 @entity231
BACKGROUND: Visual acuity and vision related quality of life outcomes in @entity231 surgery were evaluated in a population based survey in two geographic zones in Nepal. METHODS: Case finding was based on random sampling using a stratified cluster design with door to door enumeration of @entity1 aged > or = 45 years followed by eye examinations at village sites. All aphakics/pseudophakics, those with visual acuity less than 6/60 in either eye, and a sample of those with normal visual acuity were administered @entity227 ( @entity227 ) and quality of life (QOL) questionnaires. RESULTS: 15% of the 159 @entity231 operated cases had presenting visual acuity > or = 6/18 in both eyes, 38% with best corrected visual acuity. 21% were still blind with presenting visual acuity < 6/60 in both eyes, 7% with best correction. On a 0-100 scale, mean @entity227 and QOL scores were 87.2 and 93.9 respectively in normally sighted unoperated individuals, dropping to 15.6 and 29.5 for those severely blind (< 3/60). Among the @entity231 operated, mean @entity227 and QOL scores were 47.5 and 55.4, respectively. @entity227 and QOL scores correlated with vision status at statistically significant levels (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: @entity231 surgery outcomes, whether measured by traditional visual acuity or by @entity1 reported @entity227 /QOL, are at levels many would consider unacceptably low. It is apparent that in the quest to reduce @entity231 much more attention must be given to improving surgery outcomes.
