Quality of life results after vitreolysis in patients with symptomatic vitreous floaters

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the quality of life and visual results after yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) vitreolysis in symptomatic vitreous floaters. Methods: This was a prospective case series study including patients with symptomatic floaters attending the Oftalmosalud Institute of eyes and underwent YAG laser vitreolysis. All patients completed the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire 25 for the quality of life assessment and the presence of floaters as well as the measure of the visual acuity reported preprocedure and after 3-month follow-up. Statistical analysis was done using score 0–100 for each question, and a sign test for paired samples was used. Results: Twenty eyes of 20 patients were evaluated. The comparisons for the questionnaire show an improvement in the general vision (P = 0.008), near vision (P = 0.001), and distance vision (P = 0.012). Furthermore, the dependency of glasses (P = 0.012), the score of mental health (P = 0.007), and the best visual acuity (P = 0.004) were improved. Patients who referred improvement in the quality of life were 75% pseudophakic patients and 25% phakic patients. The complications were high intraocular pressure and subcapsular cataract. Conclusions: Our study revealed a moderate improvement in floater symptoms and in quality of life and visual outcomes.

Keywords

• national eye institute visual functioning questionnaire-25
• quality of life
• vitreous floaters
• yttrium aluminum garnet vitreolysis