The Quality of Life in Patients with Pathologic Myopia

Purpose: To evaluate the functional status in daily life and the quality of life (QOL) of pathologic myopia patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data of consecutive pathologic myopia patients (n = 200) and control subjects (n = 144). The influence of the disease on the daily life and the QOL of patients were evaluated using a self-rated questionnaire. The questionnaire covered the full range of daily life activity, including daily tasks depending on visual acuity, social and emotional handicaps, and cognition of disease, and the QOL of pathologic myopia patients. Results: The functional status in daily life and the QOL of patients were reduced compared with control subjects. The influence of pathologic myopia on a patient's daily life was primarily the result of three major factors, handicap, disability, and support. All three factors correlated with the QOL, the degree of handicap having the strongest correlation. Conclusion: The functional status in daily life and the QOL of pathologic myopia patients were reduced; this decline in QOL was attributed to handicap and disability caused by the ocular disease.