The UK National Artificial Eye Questionnaire Study: predictors of artificial eye wearers' experience Part 2 - visual function and quality of life.

OBJECTIVES To report associations with visual function and quality of life (QOL) in artificial eye wearers. METHODS Multicentre, observational, cross-sectional, nationwide study, within the National Health Service England. Items were adopted from the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire, and incorporated in the National Artificial Eye Questionnaire (NAEQ). The NAEQ was completed by 951 respondents. Multiple regressions assessed associations between the QOL scores and the experiences of artificial eye wearers, their routine management, changes over time, baseline and demographic parameters. RESULTS Parameters predictive of a better QOL composite score included longer artificial eye wear (β = 0.18, p  10 years mean 79.45 ± 0.70; p = 0.001). Both better prosthesis appearance (β = 0.14, p = 0.022) and improved motility (β = 0.13, p = 0.042) predicted a better dependency score. Use of lubricating ointment predicted a worse dependency score (β = 0.23, p = 0.003). Neither the frequency of removal, nor the cleaning frequency of the artificial eye correlated with QOL scales. CONCLUSIONS Multiple factors in the artificial eye experience were found to predict visual function and QOL aspects. This study underscores the need to generate a dedicated QOL questionnaire for use in anophthalmic patients.