[Polish adaptation and validation of the Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) in multiple sclerosis patients]. / Polska adaptacja i analiza walidacyjna kwestionariusza funkcji wzrokowych (visual function questionnaire VFQ-25) u chorych ze stwardnieniem rozsianym.

INTRODUCTION: Visual disturbances very often accompany of multiple sclerosis (MS) and affect patients' quality of life (QoL). There have been no tools for investigation of the effect of visual disturbances on QoL in MS patients available in Poland. The aim of this study was validation analysis of Polish adaptation of Visual Function Questionnaire VFQ-25. MATERIAL AND METHODS: VFQ-25 published by Mangione in 2001, consists of 25 questions concerning general well-being, assessment of vision, social functioning, mental health, and self-sufficiency. According to the applicable translation principles, the original English version was adapted into Polish, and validation analysis of the convergent validity as well internal reliability was carried out. 108 randomly selected patients, diagnosed with MS according to McDonald's criteria were included in this study: 63 women and 45 men aged on the average 37.8 +/- 9.2 years, with mean disease duration of 11.2 +/- 5.6 years. All patients underwent assessment of disability based on Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Besides the analyzed VFQ-25 questionnaire, the patients completed also the Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis (FAMS) questionnaire and SF-36 Health Survey. RESULTS: The internal consistency of the questionnaire was satisfactory (Cronbach's alpha reached 0.95). The accuracy of the scale was confirmed by positive correlations of the results between VFQ-25 and EDSS, FAMS and SF-36. CONCLUSIONS: Statistical analysis has demonstrated that the Polish version of VFQ-25 is a valuable tool for investigation of the effect of visual disturbances on QoL in MS patients.

[Quality of life in visual disturbances in multiple sclerosis]. / Jakosc zycia w zaburzeniach widzenia w stwardnieniu rozsianym.

In multiple sclerosis (MS) often the visual pathway is impaired. Very early symptom which precedes neurological signs is the retrobulbar optic neuritis. In MS patients near as well as distance, color and peripheral vision can be disturbed. Many patients are not aware of visual impairment which could cause the delay in diagnosis. The assessment of the visual field in patients with MS enables early diagnosing as well as monitoring of the course of the disease. In monitoring of the course of disease most important is the evaluation of quality of life. The assessment of quality of life in MS is well known, even better than in other neurological diseases. Less known is the question of quality of life diminished because of visual field defects in MS. In review report the value of perimetry in diagnosing MS, visual disturbances in MS and contemporary possibilities of evaluation of quality of life in MS patients including those with defects in visual field has been described. The VFQ-25 questionnaire is a sensitive and useful tool in self-assessing visual function in MS patients.