The Effects of Youngsters’ Eyesight on Quality of Life (EYE‐Q) questionnaire measures vision‐related functioning (VRF) and vision‐related quality of life (VRQOL) in children with uveitis. We aimed to revise the Alpha version of the EYE‐Q to refine VRF and VRQOL subscales and assess the validity of the EYE‐Q.
Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), JIA‐associated uveitis, and other non‐infectious uveitis were enrolled. Patients and parents completed the EYE‐Q, PedsQL (overall QOL), and CHAQ (physical functioning). The Development site completed the Alpha version of the EYE‐Q, and the Composite sites completed the Beta version. We compared item‐subscale correlations, internal consistency, construct and discriminant validity amongst the different versions.
Of the 644 patients enrolled, 61.6% completed the Alpha version, and 38.4% the Beta version of the EYE‐Q. Mean patient age was 11.1 (SD = 4.2) years, and 70% were female. Fewer white patients (73.5%) completed the Alpha version compared to the Beta version (86.2%, p <0.001). Except for the patient‐reported VRF, both versions had similar item‐subscale correlations. Version comparisons on scale internal consistencies indicated significant differences for parent‐ and patient‐reported VRF, but each scale had a Cronbach’s Alpha >0.80 Beta. When data were combined, the EYE‐Q showed significant differences between JIA‐only and uveitis patients on all parent and patient scores, except for patient‐reported VRF.
In conclusion, the EYE‐Q appears to be a valid measure of VRF and VRQOL in pediatric uveitis. Our results suggest it may be used as an outcome measure in multi‐center pediatric uveitis studies.
Ref: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/acr.24491
