Responsiveness of the SF-36 health survey to changes in visual acuity among patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization

PURPOSE: To report the responsiveness of the SF,36 Health Survey to changes in visual acuity among patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization participating in the Submacular Surgery Trials pilot study. DESIGN: Cohort study. METHODS: Correlation analyses were used to explore relationships at each time point, and linear regression was used to determine the relation between the 2,year changes in SF 36 scores and visual acuity. RESULTS: A weak, but statistically significant, association was found between the 2,year changes in both the Physical Component Summary score and the Physical Functioning subscale with changes in visual acuity of the better eye. No association was found between changes in visual acuity and the Mental Component Summary score or the Mental Health subscale. CONCLUSIONS: The SF,36 summary scales and the individual subscales were minimally responsive to 2-year changes in visual acuity in this subgroup of patients. (C) 2004 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.