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PURPOSE: To validate Spanish Low Vision Qualify of Life (SLVQOL) questionnaire, a quality of life instrument specifically designed for patients with visual impairment, and evaluate its psychometric properties. METHODS: The study included 170 visually impaired patients and 195 healthy subjects. Participants were administered the SLVQOL, the NEI VFQ-25, and the EQ 5D-5L questionnaires. Reliability, test–retest reproducibility, feasibility, and construct validity of the SLVQOL were assessed. The Generalized Partial Credit Model was used to fit the data and the performance of each item was characterized using category response curves and item information. RESULTS: The reliability of the SLVQOL was 0.981 (95% CI: 0.978—0.985). Test–retest reproducibility was good (¿=0.864, P < .001). A cut-off point of 105 or 106 was optimal to detect visual impairment, with a sensitivity of 95.4% and a specificity of 91.8%. Construct validity was shown by the corresponding convergence or divergence correlations between the score of the SLVQOL and its dimensions and the overall and partial scores of the NEI VFQ-25 and the EQ 5D-5L. Item response theory analysis showed discrimination and information parameters ranging from 0.539 to 3.063 and from -1.894 to 1.074, respectively. CONCLUSION: The SLVQOL was able to quantitatively assess and identify differences in the quality of life among patients with visual impairment and normal subjects. The psychometric properties evaluated suggest that this tool has excellent validity, internal consistency, and reproducibility, but may benefit from a reduction of the number of items., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (author's final draft)

Purpose: To validate the Spanish Low Vision Qualify of Life (SLVQOL) questionnaire, a quality of life instrument specifically designed for patients with visual impairment, and evaluate its psychometric properties. Methods: The study included 170 visually impaired patients and 195 healthy subjects. Participants were administered the SLVQOL, the NEI VFQ-25, and the EQ 5D-5L questionnaires. Reliability, test–retest reproducibility, feasibility, and construct validity of the SLVQOL were assessed. The Generalized Partial Credit Model was used to fit the data and the performance of each item was characterized using category response curves and item information. Results: The reliability of the SLVQOL was 0.981 (95% CI: 0.978–0.985). Test–retest reproducibility was good (ρ = 0.864, P < .001). A cut-off point of 105 or 106 was optimal to detect visual impairment, with a sensitivity of 95.4% and a specificity of 91.8%. Construct validity was shown by the corresponding convergence or divergence correlations between the score of the SLVQOL and its dimensions and the overall and partial scores of the NEI VFQ-25 and the EQ 5D-5L. Item response theory analysis showed discrimination and information parameters ranging from 0.539 to 3.063 and from −1.894 to 1.074, respectively. Conclusion: The SLVQOL was able to quantitatively assess and identify differences in the quality of life among patients with visual impairment and normal subjects. The evaluated psychometric properties suggest that this tool has excellent validity, internal consistency, and reproducibility, but may benefit from a reduction of the number of items.

Objetciu: Reconstruir en 3D caps del nervi òptic (CNOs) de rata camb glaucoma experimental (GExp) precoç unilateral, per proporcionar la primera descripció histomorfomètrica del CNO de controls normales i amb GExp primerenc en aquesta espècie. Métodos: Es va injectar sèrum salí hipertònic unilateralment en les venes epiesclerals de 8 rates noruegues que van ser sacrificades 4 setmantes després (fixació-perfusió). Cinc observadors enmascarats graduaren el dany de seccions del nervi òptic (NO) orbitari (1 Normal-5 Extens). Es van reconstruir en 3D, es van visualitzar, deliniar i parametritzar els CNOs i l'esclera peripapil·lar. Els paràmetres globals i específics per ull van ser avaluats conjuntament i regionalment amb un model d'efectes linials mixtes amb criteris de significació ajustats per a comparacións múltiples. Resultats: El CNO de la rata consisteix en 2 obertures esclerals (una superior neurovascular i una altra otra inferior arterial) separades por una cingla escleral. Dins l'obertura superior, el nervi es recolza un una prominent extensió de la Membrana de Bruch's (MB) superiorment i està rodejat d'un plexe vascular. El NO i l'Obertura Anterior del Canal Escleral (ASCO) van expandir-se significativament en 7 dels 8 ulls amb GExp. En almenys 5 ulls amb GExp van detectar-se expansions significativae de l'Obertura de la MB (BMO) (3-10%), de l'ASCO y de l'Obertura Posterior del Canal Escleral (PSCO) (8-21% i 8-41% respectivament). L'expansió del NO va correlacionar-se significativament amb el grau de dany (R2=0.668, p 0.05). Conclusions: La complexitat 3D del CNO de rata y el gau en el què es diferencia de la del primat han estat infravalorats en estudis previs en 2D. En el CNO de rata, el NO, el BMO que el rodeja I el canal neurovascular s'expandeixen de manera precoç en resposta a l'elevació experimental crònica de PIO. Aquestes troballes aporten nous punts de referència i objectius d'imatge per detectar el desenvolupament de la neuropatia glaucomatosa exper, Objetivo: Reconstruir en 3D cabezas del nervio óptico (CNOs) de rata con glaucoma experimental (GExp) precoz unilateral, para proporcionar la primera descripción histomorfométrica de la CNO de controles normales y GExp precoz en esta especie. Métodos: Se inyectó suero salino hipertónico unilaterlamente en las venas epiesclerales de 8 ratas noruegas que se sacrificaron 4 semanas después (fijación-perfusión). Cinco observadores enmascarados graduaron el daño de secciones del nervio óptico (NO) orbitario (1 Normal-5 Extenso). Se reconstruyeron en 3D, se visualizaron, delinearon y parametrizaron las CNOs junto con la esclera peripapilar. Los parámetros globales y específicos por ojo fueron evaluados conjuntamente y regionalmente con un modelo de efectos lineares mixtos con criterios de significación ajustados para comparaciones múltiples. Resultados: La CNO de la rata consiste en 2 aperturas esclerales (una superior neurovascular y otra inferior arterial) separados por una cincha escleral. Dentro de la apertura superior, el nervio se apoya en una prominente extensión de la Membrana de Bruch's (MB) superiormente y está rodeado de un plexo vascular. El NO y la Apertura Anterior del Canal Escleral (ASCO) se expandieron significativamente en 7 de 8 ojos con GExp. En al menos 5 ojos con GExp se detectaron expansiones significativas de la apertura de la MB (BMO) (3-10%), de la ASCO y de la Apertura Posterior del Canal Escleral (PSCO) (8-21% y 8-41% resp.). La expansión del NO se correlacionó significativamente con el grado de daño (R2=0.668, p 0.05). Conclusiones: La complejidad 3D de la CNO de rata y el grado en el que se diferencia de la del primate han sido infravalorados en los estudios previos en 2D. En la CNO de rata, el NO, el BMO que lo rodea y el canal neurovascular se expanden de manera temprana en respuesta a la elevación experimental crónica de PIO. Estos hallazgos proporcionan nuevos puntos de referencia y objetivos de imagen para detectar el desarrollo de la neu, Purpose: To Three-Dimensionally (3D) reconstruct rat optic nerve heads (ONHs) with varying stages of unilateral early experimental glaucoma (EG), so as to provide the first histomorphometrical description of nomal controls and early EG ONH anatomy in this species. Methods: Hypertonic saline was unilaterally injected into the episcleral veins of 8 Brown Norway rats and animals were sacrificed 4 weeks later by perfusion fixation. Orbital optic nerve (ON) crosssections from were graded (1 normal, 5 extensive injury) by 5 masked observers. ONH's with peripapillary ONH sclera were 3D reconstructed, visualized, delineated, and parameterized. Overall and animal-especific EG versus control eye ONH parameters differences were assessed globally and regionally by linear mixed effect models with significance criteria adjusted for multiple comparisons. Results: The rat ONH consists of 2 scleral openings (a superior neurovascular and inferior arterial) separated by a scleral sling. Within the superior opening, the nerve abuts a prominent extension of Bruch's Membrane (BM) superiorly and is surrounded by a vascular plexus. Expansions of the ON and anterior scleral canal opening (ASCO) achieved statistical significance overall and in 7 of 8 EG eyes. In at least 5 EG eyes, significant expansions in Bruch's Membrane Opening (BMO) (3-10%), the ASCO and Posterior Scleral Canal Openings (PSCOs) (8-21% and 8-41%, respectively) were detected. ON expansion was significantly correlated to ON damage (R2=0.668, p 0.05). Conclusions: The 3D complexity of the rat ONH and the extent to which it differs from the primate have been under-appreciated within previous 2D studies. In the rat ONH, the ON ansd surrounding BMO and neurovascular canal expand early in their response to chronic experimental IOP elevation. These findings provide phenotypic landmarks and imaging targets for detecting the development of EG optic neuropathy in the rat eye.