Correlation between contrast sensitivity and national eye institute visual function questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) Rasch scores in patients with open-angle glaucoma: A cross-sectional study.

Background: We examined the relationship between contrast sensitivity (CS) and visual field stage/severity in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG), and correlated CS with Quality of Vision (QOV) scores.

Methods: CS was measured under photopic (100 cd) and mesopic (10 cd) conditions in 218 eyes of 109 patients with OAG aged < 60 years. The glaucoma stages were divided into four groups according to the mean deviation (MD) of the Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA) 24 - 2 or 10 - 2 Swedish Interactive Thresholding Algorithm (SITA) standard, and their relationship with CS was examined.

Results: The results of the Japanese version of the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (NEI VFQ-25) in 79 patients were converted into Rasch scores and correlated with CS. Both HFA24-2 and 10 - 2 showed statistically significant improvements in all items except 10.2 cycles per degree (cpd) under mesopic conditions where CS decreased significantly (p < 0.05). Correlations between CS and NEI VFQ-25 Rasch scores were stronger in the worse eye (WE) at HFA24-2, 10 - 2, and foveal sensitivity thresholds. The measurement results strongly correlated under photopic conditions. Comparing the correlations at HFA24-2, 10 - 2, and foveal sensitivity thresholds, the correlation was strongest at the foveal sensitivity threshold.

Conclusions: CS declines with progression in the visual field stage or severity. QOV score tends to decreases with a decline in CS.